Senior Taliban officials discussed ways to prevent the emergence and spread of organized public protests during a recent cabinet meeting chaired by their leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, in Kandahar, according to sources familiar with the gathering.
The meeting, which has not been publicly acknowledged by the Taliban, also addressed internal divisions within the movement, relations with Pakistan, the status of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and agreements involving Russia, the sources said.
According to the sources, participants also emphasized the importance of enforcing directives issued by the Taliban leadership and strengthening coordination among Taliban institutions.
The discussions come at a sensitive moment for the Taliban administration, which has faced a series of political and security challenges in recent weeks, including public unrest in Herat, tensions in Badakhshan province and renewed friction with Pakistan.
Sources said part of the meeting focused on managing those challenges and preventing dissatisfaction from spreading to other parts of the country.
The reported deliberations follow rare anti-Taliban protests in the western city of Herat, where demonstrations erupted after morality police detained dozens of women and girls over alleged violations of the Taliban’s dress code.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has confirmed that at least 30 women were detained in Herat between June 6 and June 7. The arrests sparked protests in the city’s Jebrail area, where Taliban later moved to disperse demonstrators.
UNAMA has also confirmed that at least one boy was killed by gunfire during the protests and said it is investigating reports of a second fatality. Human rights organizations and UN officials have criticized the Taliban’s response and expressed concern over the use of force against protesters.
At the same time, tensions have risen in northeastern Badakhshan, where local grievances and periodic unrest have challenged Taliban in recent months.
The cabinet meeting also reportedly addressed relations with neighboring Pakistan following a recent escalation in cross-border tensions.
Earlier this week, Pakistan confirmed carrying out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika, saying the attacks targeted militant hideouts and killed 26 fighters. UNAMA confirmed that the killed 13 civilians, including women and children.
Sources said Taliban officials at the Kandahar meeting discussed ways to resolve disputes with Pakistan through dialogue while also reviewing issues related to the TTP, which Islamabad accuses of operating from Afghanistan’s territory. Taliban have repeatedly denied allowing armed groups to use Afghanistan as a base for attacks against other countries.
The meeting reportedly included several senior Taliban officials, though the identities of participants and specific decisions taken during the gathering could not be independently verified.
Taliban have not issued a public statement on the meeting, its agenda or any conclusions reached by participants.
Analysts say the focus on public protests and internal cohesion underscores growing concerns within the Taliban leadership about maintaining stability as economic hardship, international isolation and public frustration continue to pose challenges nearly five years after the Taliban’s return to power.
