Kabul, Afghanistan – Nada Mohammad Nadeem, the Taliban’s Minister of Higher Education and a close confidant of the movement’s leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, warned of growing signs of distrust and internal divisions within the Taliban ranks. He stressed that the movement’s survival depends on maintaining unity and adhering to the organization’s leadership.
Nadeem’s remarks came during a speech he delivered on Tuesday at a central Taliban-affiliated jihadist school in Kabul. He urged members of the movement not to be swayed by what he called “enemy propaganda.” He warned against attempts he said were aimed at sowing doubt and division within the movement. The minister stressed the need to ignore “the propaganda of the enemies of Islam” and to remain loyal and obedient to the Taliban leadership.
Nadeem stressed that the Taliban can only maintain its regime through internal unity and organizational discipline. He also warned of the widening gap between the movement’s leadership and Afghan society, which he considered a threat to the stability of the government. He added that any internal disputes or decline in commitment could negatively impact the movement’s future and its authority.
This is not the first time Nadeem has warned of divisions within the Taliban. He has previously expressed concern about tensions among the movement’s leaders and warned of their repercussions on the stability of the ruling administration in Afghanistan.
The remarks by the minister, a close associate of Hibatullah Akhundzada, come at a sensitive time. They follow days of public criticism from Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, regarding the movement’s treatment of citizens. During a speech in Khost province, Haqqani criticized what he called “the rule of fear and intimidation.” He stated that the movement, which had suffered oppression in the past, should not be subjecting the people to such humiliation.
Haqqani called on Taliban members to improve their relationship with the community. They must treat citizens in a way that eliminates feelings of hostility and hatred. These statements highlight the extent of the divisions within the movement’s leadership. They have brought back to the forefront talk of growing internal rifts that are plaguing the Taliban at a critical juncture in their rule.
