KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Amid growing rifts within the Taliban leadership, Rahmatullah Najib, the Taliban’s deputy minister of interior, has briefed Mullah Shirin, the Taliban governor of Kandahar and a close aide to their leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, on his trip to the province, which has become the power center of Taliban.
The meeting, confirmed by the governor’s media office, offered no detailed account of the report but said “important topics” were discussed.
In a statement, the Taliban governor’s office said “various important topics were discussed and consultations were exchanged on necessary matters,” adding that Najib “provided information about his official trip to Kandahar and emphasized strengthening bilateral cooperation.”
The act of a senior Kabul-based Taliban official briefing a provincial governor is seen by observers as highly unusual and a reflection of Kandahar’s increasing dominance within the Taliban’s internal hierarchy.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Interior is formally headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, a powerful figure whose strained relationship with Akhundzada has become increasingly visible. Haqqani has not appeared publicly at the ministry for nearly three months, fueling speculation about his diminishing influence, according to reports from Amu TV and other outlets.
During Haqqani’s absence, Akhundzada has moved decisively to consolidate power, reassigning provincial police commanders and installing loyalists in key posts — many of them drawn from Kandahar, his traditional stronghold.
“This reflects the shifting chain of command,” said a political analyst familiar with Taliban structures. “Power is clearly concentrating around Akhundzada and his closest allies.”
Internal divisions between Kandahar-based and Kabul-based Taliban have become more pronounced in recent months, particularly over their rigid social policies.
