Taliban Interior Minister’s Prolonged Stay In UAE Raises Questions

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, has yet to return to Afghanistan, 12 days after his unexpected visit to the United Arab Emirates.

On 21 January, the Taliban announced that Haqqani, accompanied by Abdul Haq Wasiq, the group’s intelligence chief, had travelled to the UAE. A reliable source within the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior has confirmed that Haqqani remains abroad.

During his visit, Haqqani reportedly met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. However, details of their discussions remain undisclosed. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the meeting focused on "topics of mutual interest, mutual stability, strengthening Afghanistan’s economy, and other important matters."

Despite nearly two weeks passing since his departure, Taliban sources have provided no updates on Haqqani’s return. Meanwhile, Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, has also fled to the UAE, reportedly fearing arrest.

Following his departure from Kabul, leaked audio recordings revealed Stanekzai’s sharp criticism of Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The reasons behind Haqqani’s prolonged stay remain unclear, and Taliban officials have yet to provide any explanations regarding his extended absence.

However, Anas Haqqani, a key figure in the Haqqani network, recently posted a Quranic verse on social media referencing the "divine promise" of the "caliphate and victory of righteous believers." While he did not elaborate further, some analysts have linked the post to growing tensions between the Haqqani network and the Taliban leader.