Mohammad Khalid Hanifi, the Taliban’s Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, emphasized in a meeting with the ministry’s officials that obedience to all orders of the Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, is obligatory. He claimed that all leadership orders have a religious basis and that every official must comply with them.
Hanifi told his staff: “The orders issued by the leadership are obligatory for every official, from me to anyone else, because every order is in accordance with Sharia. Without obedience, the Emirate cannot exist.”
These remarks come at a time when reports of internal disputes within the Taliban have recently increased. According to these reports, some senior Taliban members oppose certain orders from Hibatullah Akhundzada. Abbas Stanikzai and Sirajuddin Haqqani are among those who have openly expressed their disagreements.
Earlier, Hibatullah Akhundzada, in a message to a public gathering in Kandahar, said that previous governments had fallen due to opposition and disobedience, and that Muslims have always faced problems because of internal divisions.
Additionally, in his most recent speech, the Taliban leader called on the people to obey him unconditionally, which drew criticism from some members and opponents. Critics say such statements give the impression that he considers himself above others.
Analysts believe that the recent statements by the Taliban leader and his close associates indicate deep internal divisions and concerns within the group.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
