Lovers and Beloved: A Controversial Description of Taliban Leadership Relations.
Sheikh Hamid Hamasi, a prominent Taliban figure, recently denied reports of rifts within the group’s leadership and described the relationship among Taliban officials as extremely close and based on mutual respect.
Hamasi stated that Taliban leaders are neither seeking power nor engaged in internal competition.
The bonds among them, he claimed, are so strong that they “treat each other with the respect of lovers and beloved,” a remark that has sparked diverse reactions.
He emphasized that what is being circulated about internal divisions and tensions is, in his words, “rumor and misinformation” and does not undermine the group’s unity.
According to Hamasi, the Taliban maintain internal cohesion, and such claims will not affect their decision-making or leadership structure.
These statements come after reports from media outlets, including the BBC, citing sources about serious disagreements within the Taliban leadership over governance, foreign relations, and domestic management.
Taliban officials, however, have consistently rejected these reports, labeling them as part of negative propaganda against the group.
