8am: Several government employees under Taliban control say the group has imposed a ban on smartphone use across all institutions. They add that the Taliban have warned that anyone defying the order will be referred to the group’s military court and have their smartphones destroyed. Employees say the measure was issued on the verbal order
Khaama: Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has reportedly warned the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) to stop carrying out attacks inside Pakistan or risk losing the Afghan Taliban’s support, according to a report by Pakistan’s Express Tribune. The Taliban administration in Kabul has not publicly commented on the report, and officials have yet to respond to the claims
Amu: Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, used his Eid al-Adha sermon on Wednesday to call on political and military opponents to abandon their resistance, return to Afghanistan and accept Taliban rule. “Lay down your weapons. We have no issue with you,” Akhundzada said. “We forgave you before and we forgive you now. Come back.
8am: The Taliban’s Central Fatwa Council (the Fatwa Council), acting on orders from Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, has prepared a treatise titled “The Effects of Obedience in Strengthening the Islamic System” and distributed it widely among the public and the group’s fighters. The Taliban stated that the work was produced for “the general public”
Afghanistan International: After recent remarks by the Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, demanding unconditional obedience, some Taliban members have criticised him, saying his comments suggest he sees himself “in the position of a prophet”. So far, only Sirajuddin Haqqani and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai have publicly criticised Akhundzada, while other members have not voiced criticism openly.
Amu: Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada made no reference to recent Pakistani attacks, the ongoing clashes with Pakistan or the issue of girls’ education in a lengthy message issued for the Eid holiday. Instead, the message focused largely on calls for obedience to him, prayers for his protection and the survival of the Taliban rule, and
Afghanistan International: Afghanistan’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva said Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has become increasingly isolated and is under constant scrutiny from foreign surveillance and political pressure. Nasir Ahmad Andisha said Akhundzada disapproves of the repeated visits to Kabul by Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special envoy for Afghanistan,
Amu: Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has appointed 15 Taliban officials to new positions, including their provincial governors, deputy governors and senior security officials, according to a statement. According to a notice released by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, Gul Haidar Shafaq, previously Taliban governor of Jawzjan, was appointed governor of Bamiyan, while Abdullah Sarhadi, the Taliban
Amu: Details of the meeting have not been made public, but the visit came days after Haqqani sharply criticised the Taliban’s style of governance in a speech in the eastern province of Khost on December 12. Following his trip to Kandahar, the Taliban’s traditional power centre, Haqqani struck a markedly different tone, publicly stressing obedience
Afghanistan International: Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has urged members of the group to “recognise their limits and authority” after assuming office, warning against discord, negligence and arbitrary conduct. His remarks follow comments by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, who recently said the group governs through humiliation, violence, fear and intimidation. Click here to read