Taliban Ministers Dissatisfied With Group Leader’s Interference In Their Duties

Sources informed Afghanistan International that tensions have significantly increased between Hibatullah Akhundzada, Taliban's leader; Sirajuddin Haqqani, the interior minister, and Yaqoob Mujahid, the defence minister of the group.

Sources say that Haqqani and Yaqoob are dissatisfied with Akhundzada's interference in their duties.

Reliable sources in Kabul told the Pashto service of Afghanistan International that these two ministers had discussed their differences with Mullah Hibatullah, describing some of his actions as interference in their affairs. However, it has been reported that Hibatullah dismissed their concerns as unimportant.

It has been said that the Taliban leader told Haqqani and Yaqoob that they had not significantly participated in the Taliban's "jihad" against the former Afghan government.

According to the sources, following these criticisms, supporters and affiliates of Haqqani and Yaqoob have widely circulated their "jihadi" images and videos on social media.

A source from the Taliban's Interior Ministry told the Pashto service of Afghanistan International that in response to the criticisms, they posted videos and images of Haqqani on social media, showing him before carrying out an attack or meeting with a suicide bomber.

Recently, an old video of Sirajuddin Haqqani and his brother bidding farewell to a teenage suicide bomber has been circulated widely on Afghanistan's social media.

Many users claim that the Haqqani network, by training suicide attackers, is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in Afghanistan.

In the past, there have also been reports of internal disagreements between senior Taliban officials and Hibatullah. However, Haqqani, Yaqoob, and other senior officials of the group have emphasised on absolute obedience to the Taliban leader.