Internal Divisions Within the Taliban: Arrests, Power Struggles, and Policy Disputes

Kokcha News Agency: Internal divisions within the Taliban have come to the forefront, with reports of arrests, power struggles, and policy disputes exposing the group’s growing instability.

• Arrest of a Taliban Advisor: The Taliban’s advisor to the Ministry of Energy and Water was reportedly arrested for supporting girls’ education, a move that underscores the group’s crackdown on dissent.
• Power Struggles: Sources indicate that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has centralized financial control in Kandahar, sidelining other factions and causing tension within the group.
• Policy Disputes: Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, has reportedly warned Hibatullah about the risk of factionalism, as leaders within the group increasingly challenge the central leadership.
• Arrests and Detentions: A Taliban commander in Badakhshan was killed along with his family in an internal clash, while another prominent figure, Abbas Stanikzai, has been removed from his position, signaling ongoing purges within the group.

These internal conflicts have had significant implications for governance and security in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s inability to present a united front has led to policy paralysis, with key issues such as girls’ education and economic management remaining unresolved.

The situation has also raised concerns about the group’s long-term stability, as power struggles and ideological differences continue to undermine its cohesion.