KABUL: A key official and close ally of Afghanistan’s Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, has been removed from his post, signaling a major shift in power within the Taliban government.
Abdullah Mukhtar, who served as a Deputy Interior Minister, was removed by the Taliban’s Supreme Leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada. He has been replaced by Mohammad Wazir, who has already taken charge of the post.
The removal comes amid reports of growing disagreements within the Taliban leadership. Interior Minister Haqqani has recently criticized other leaders without naming them. His absence from the ceremony for the new deputy minister is seen as a sign of these internal tensions.
Adding to the speculation, Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai reported that Sirajuddin Haqqani has been stripped of all his powers within the Interior Ministry. Yousafzai stated that Haqqani’s position has weakened significantly following the recent assassination of his relative, Khalil Haqqani.
Also read: Taliban Intensifies Repression in Afghanistan, Orders Arrests and Closure of Hezb-e-Islami Offices
Last month Taliban regime in Afghanistan has ordered the immediate closure of all Hezb-e-Islami offices across the country, the arrest of its members, and the confiscation of office equipment, according to an official document made public by Habib-ur-Rahman Hekmatyar, son of the party’s leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
The directive, issued on March 29 by the Taliban’s Directorate of Justice in Kunduz province, cites the continued activities of Hezb-e-Islami despite the regime’s blanket ban on political parties. “If there is any office of Hezb-e-Islami in any province, its equipment must be handed over to the relevant authorities and the office closed. The staff should be detained until they repent from their activities,” the order states.
The letter also instructs authorities to arrest individuals operating under the party’s name even in areas without formal offices, and to carry out these actions in coordination with provincial governors and Taliban intelligence.
The move drew sharp condemnation from Habib-ur-Rahman Hekmatyar, who posted a photo of the document on the social media platform X. He accused the Taliban of silencing opposition and suppressing Islamic and political freedoms. “The Taliban are ignorant of justice and Islamic rights. They do not tolerate advice, criticism, or dissent,” he wrote.
