Amid ongoing rifts among Taliban leaders, the Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, emphasized the need to resolve differences and maintain complete obedience to leadership directives at a gathering in Kandahar.
The meeting was attended by senior Taliban figures, including Abdul Ghani Baradar, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Yaqoob Mujahid.
In a statement, Taliban reported that Akhundzada addressed the assembly at the conclusion of a three-day seminar in Kandahar. As in previous instances, no images of his speech were released.
Sources in Kandahar noted that Akhundzada once again delivered his speech from a separate room. Akhundzada warned that internal “divisions and mistrust” could lead to the group’s downfall.
The meeting was attended by key Taliban officials, including Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Defense Minister Yaqoob Mujahid, Army Chief of Staff Fasihuddin Fitrat, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Khalid Hanafi, among others.
In his address, Akhundzada instructed Taliban commanders and officials to refrain from interpreting or altering the directives of senior leaders. He called for unity and strict adherence to leadership commands, marking the fourth instance in which he has stressed the importance of cohesion and obedience among Taliban ranks.
The United Nations, in a recent report in June, noted that internal disputes within the Taliban leadership over governance issues persist. Despite maintaining “overall unity,” the report highlighted ongoing internal tensions within the group’s structure.
