Ismail Miakhel, former head of Afghanistan’s National Radio and Television, has responded to the Eid message of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, stating that Afghanistan’s main problem is not the “absence of allegiance (bay’ah),” but rather the “lack of legitimacy” of the Taliban administration. He said that pledging allegiance to a “hidden leader” cannot be considered a sign of public awareness or genuine participation by the people.
In his Eid message, the Taliban leader emphasized that having an Amir (leader) is obligatory and that unity cannot be achieved in society without allegiance. However, Miakhel believes that the people of Afghanistan are currently facing challenges such as poverty, migration, the closure of girls’ schools, restrictions on women, and the silencing of the media—issues that, according to him, were ignored in the message.
Miakhel also stated that political legitimacy comes from public consent, broad participation, and the establishment of a national and inclusive system, not from the orders of an unaccountable figure. He emphasized that resolving Afghanistan’s crisis requires attention to the wishes of the people and their meaningful participation in the country’s political structure.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
