KABUL, Afghanistan — In the absence of Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s interior minister and a senior Taliban leader, the Ministry of Interior is being overseen by his deputies, Ibrahim Sadr and, in some cases, Nabi Omari, according to sources within the ministry.
Haqqani, who has not returned to Afghanistan for about a month following a trip to the United Arab Emirates, has also been absent from public gatherings in Paktia and Khost, key strongholds of the Haqqani Network, local sources said. His frequent participation in such events had been a defining feature of his leadership.
According to a United Nations Security Council statement issued on January 22, 2025, Haqqani was granted a travel exemption to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia between January 23 and February 3. However, sources indicate that he has not returned since then.
His extended absence has fueled speculation of internal divisions within the Taliban’s leadership. Sources suggest that Haqqani is increasingly at odds with the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, who has consolidated power in Kandahar, further marginalizing figures from other factions.
Haqqani is not the only senior Taliban official currently abroad.
Sources say that Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, has traveled to Qatar, officially for medical treatment.
Abbas Stanikzai, the deputy foreign minister, has reportedly remained in the UAE after criticizing Taliban leadership.
Some Afghan political observers believe that these leaders are maneuvering for influence in what could become a power struggle within the Taliban.
Mohammad Asif Siddiqui, a former deputy chairman of Afghanistan’s Senate, told Amu TV that senior Taliban figures currently outside Afghanistan are working to undermine Akhundzada’s authority.
“These figures—Haqqani, Baradar, and Stanikzai—are all in the UAE and Qatar,” Siddiqui said. “Qatar, which played a key role in bringing the Taliban to power, is now pressuring foreign powers to push for a leadership change within the Taliban.”
One major source of internal discord is Akhundzada’s increasing centralization of power in Kandahar, effectively sidelining key figures such as Haqqani.
Last week, Akhundzada replaced the Taliban’s police chief in Kandahar without Haqqani’s involvement. Sources also confirmed that several security reshuffles in Kabul in recent weeks were ordered directly from Kandahar.
Amid these internal tensions, reports surfaced Wednesday of a brief firefight outside the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior. While details remain unclear, sources confirmed that roads leading to the ministry were temporarily blocked following the incident.
Taliban have not commented on Haqqani’s prolonged absence or the reported clashes outside the ministry.
