KABUL, Afghanistan — Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, held meetings with American officials during a recent trip to the United Arab Emirates, according to three sources familiar with the matter, including one Taliban official based in Kandahar. The meetings, they said, have triggered discontent within the Taliban’s senior leadership, particularly from the Taliban’s reclusive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, told Amu that Akhundzada expressed concern over the nature of Haqqani’s contact with the United States. He reportedly warned his inner circle that if such engagements were perceived as external interference, the Taliban might consider a return to armed resistance.
During a separate visit to Kabul, U.S. officials presented the Taliban with two options: return the American military equipment left behind in 2021 or permit a renewed U.S. presence at Bagram Air Base, the sources said. No decision has been made, but the issue has revived divisions within the Taliban over how to approach Washington.
The recent developments follow a surprise visit to Kabul by a U.S. delegation last week that included former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. The visit — part of broader exploratory talks — has stirred speculation about a possible shift in U.S.-Taliban engagement, particularly as Washington weighs how to address Afghanistan under a potential second Trump administration.
Two of the sources said that, in response to Haqqani’s meetings, Akhundzada moved to curtail his influence by reassigning Haqqani-aligned forces from Paktia Province to other areas of the country. All three sources emphasized that the Taliban leadership remains deeply divided over how to engage with foreign powers.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed in a recent interview with Al Arabiya that discussions had taken place with U.S. officials focused on “increasing diplomatic engagement.” He described the shift as a post-conflict normalization effort.
“One cannot remain enemies forever,” Mujahid said. “That was during the occupation, when their military was in our country. But now we are no longer at war with the United States or any other country. It is time for dialogue, trust, and engagement.”
Despite such rhetoric, Taliban officials have consistently rejected calls to return U.S. equipment or permit renewed foreign military presence. President Trump has repeatedly called for the return of abandoned U.S. weapons and emphasized the strategic value of Bagram Air Base.
Mujahid did not address the specifics of Khalilzad’s visit or Haqqani’s reported meetings in the UAE, but his comments appeared aimed at signaling openness to diplomacy while maintaining a nationalist posture.
Meanwhile, academic observers say any sustainable U.S. approach to Afghanistan must prioritize political legitimacy for the Afghan people.
“If the U.S. truly wants to secure its interests in Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Nazeef Shahrani, a professor at Indiana University, “it must help ensure the country regains its freedom through a system based on citizen legitimacy — not just deals with the Taliban.”
The U.S. State Department has not publicly commented on the meetings or the options reportedly presented to the Taliban.
