Afghanistan International: With these changes, it seems that Hibatullah is trying to expand and consolidate his influence. One-third of these appointments have been made in Afghanistan’s southern provinces. Hibatullah has appointed and replaced dozens of people, including ministers, deputies, and commanders of the Taliban’s army. Many of these appointments are made not on the basis
8am: This order is seen as another step toward consolidating power in Akhundzada’s hands in Kandahar. Many observers view it as an indication of growing distrust between Akhundzada and senior Taliban officials in Kabul. Previously, some Taliban leaders, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, have openly defied Akhundzada’s bans on photography and filming, disregarding their “Amir’s” directives. Click
Amu: According to a new decree attributed to the Taliban leader, the Ministries of Defence, Interior and the General Directorate of Intelligence have been stripped of the authority to distribute weapons, ammunition and military equipment. According to the decree, only the Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, can decide on the distribution of military equipment. Some see
Afghanistan International: Aino Maina, a posh neighbourhood in Kandahar, was previously home to government officials, businessmen, and some “smugglers” during the previous regime. Since the Taliban’s rise to power, it has become a favoured and secure location for Taliban officials, with many of these homes now serving as residences and investment properties for the group’s
8am: Mullah Hibatullah appears to be traveling to the north to solidify his presence in these regions and simultaneously manage internal group conflicts. Internal conflicts within the Taliban are escalating due to ethnic biases. Some commanders who are not ethnically aligned with Mullah Hibatullah have been suppressed, while others seem to be sidelined. This situation
Afghanistan International: The law states that it is necessary to cover “the entire body of a woman and to hide her face due to fear of sedition”. How men dress is another part of the Taliban’s law. The law also prohibits the playing of music, the transportation of women without a mahram [guardian] or without
Afghanistan International: Amrullah Saleh, the former Vice-President of Afghanistan, has claimed that Mullah Hibatullah, the leader of the Taliban, is fearful of Kabul. In an interview with the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Saleh stated, “Mullah Hibatullah fears Kabul, where the majority of the population is not Pashtun, and the residents are highly critical of the
Afghanistan International: Reliable sources have told Afghanistan International that relations between Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the group’s foreign minister, have soured. Recently, the Taliban selected Zabihullah Mujahid, the main spokesperson for their government, to attend the third Doha meeting instead of Muttaqi. According to these sources, Mujahid’s
AP: Pakistani journalist and author Ahmed Rashid, who has written several books about Afghanistan and the Taliban, said Akhundzada’s appeals for unity were a sign of desperation because he refused to spell out the real issues facing Afghans such as unemployment, economic development, and building a consensus for social reform. “I would not be convinced
8am: In recent months, the people of Kandahar have been discussing ISIS activities in the city. It is said that the Taliban stationed in this city are also deeply concerned about the increasing ISIS activities and fear the possibility of ISIS launching attacks. A few days ago, one of Kandahar’s residents described the security situation