Due to growing economic and security problems in Afghanistan, tensions between the hard-line Taliban and the moderate Taliban are increasing.
According to a report from Focus News, this has been clearly seen in the messages issued by the hard-line Taliban and the moderate Taliban on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr in recent days. The report states that the moderate Taliban in Afghanistan want to gain external support by giving a positive message to the world and ending harsh policies.
In a statement issued by Afghanistan’s Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, on Eid-ul-Fitr, he called the international community’s criticism unjustified. On the contrary, Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani called on the Taliban to maintain decency and avoid behavior that would displease the Afghan people.
Since the Afghan Taliban have ruled Afghanistan since 2021, restrictions affecting women in particular have drawn widespread condemnation and furthered their international isolation. They have banned access to public places like education, jobs, and parks.
“If anyone has a problem with us, we are ready to solve it, but we will never compromise on our principles,” the Afghan Supreme Leader said in his Eid sermon at the Eidgah Mosque in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar.
In contrast, Sirajuddin Haqqani’s Eid message was in Dari and Pashto, in which he urged to avoid creating a rift between the people and the authorities. Sirajuddin Haqqani’s message was completely different from Hibatullah Akhundzada’s, as he referred to the challenges facing the country.
In this regard, Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute of the Wilson Center, said that the Haqqani network is seeking investment and assistance from the international community.
According to Pakistani journalist and author Ahmed Rasheed, there are moderate elements within the Taliban who want to see women educated, but they are not in a strong position so they are biding their time. He said that Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has undoubtedly established the writ, but he does not have answers to most of the people’s questions.
Sirajuddin Haqqani has criticized the Taliban leadership and their decision-making process before.
