Sami Sadat, chairman of the Afghanistan Freedom Front, lays out a detailed and controversial portrait of a Taliban that appears to be fraying at the edges after five years in power and three years of strained ties with Pakistan. He argues that internal divisions within the Taliban leadership are deepening and that two rival power centers are emerging: a Kandahar-based faction loyal to Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and a Kabul-based network aligned with Defense Minister Mullah Yaqub and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. Sadat asserts that while Pakistan has carried out strikes and faced cross-border allegations, Haibatullah has remained publicly silent on Pakistan, whereas some Taliban commanders are reportedly supporting cross-border attacks and assisting TTP operations without central approval. He points to dissent from senior figures such as Mullah Mutasim Agha Jana (a former chief of staff to the late Mullah Omar), who he says has criticized Haibatullah’s stance toward Pakistan and who he claims was detained in Kandahar on the leader’s orders. The record then describes envoys tied to Haibatullah traveling across the Durand Line to assure Pakistan that the Taliban would curb anti-Pakistan elements, arrest dissenters, and enforce a strict no-criticism policy toward Pakistan, in exchange for backing against internal rivals. Sadat’s framing suggests a struggle over who will ultimately control Afghanistan’s governance apparatus and security architecture, with potential loyalties shifting among provincial commanders as Kandahar’s hardline center vies with Kabul’s competing bloc. He also raises concerns about looming humanitarian deterioration and the urgency of action as leadership ambiguity fuels instability. From a critical perspective, these claims—being attributed to an opposition figure—need corroboration and careful verification. If any truth to the power calculus holds, Afghanistan could face heightened fragility, with external influence compounding internal fractures and complicating relief, governance, and civilian protection efforts. This analysis underscores the fragility of Afghanistan’s political order and the high stakes for its people, regional actors, and the international community seeking stability and humanitarian access.

Source: Statement from @AfghanTimes7

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Published: May 4, 2026, 12:02 pm