Managing Discontent Within the Emirate; Forced Appointment of Qari Salahuddin Ayubi as Governor of Logar
In a significant development in the political structure of the Islamic Emirate, documents obtained from local sources indicate that Qari Salahuddin Ayubi has been appointed as the new governor of Logar Province by direct order of Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban.
This appointment comes at a time when Ayubi has been known in recent months as one of the figures dissatisfied with the central policies of the Emirate.
Qari Salahuddin previously served as the police chief of Zabul Province and has had hidden and sometimes open opposition to some of the security and political decisions of the central circle of the Emirate – especially the Kandahar faction.
Informed sources say that the recent transfer is not considered a promotion but a kind of controlled political exile, the purpose of which is to contain discontent and keep him away from the major decision-making arenas at the center.
Analysts believe that this type of “managed” appointments is a familiar tactic within authoritarian structures; that is, placing disgruntled figures in positions that both limit their direct influence and ostensibly reduce internal tension.
Logar, with its sensitive ethnic and religious context and proximity to the capital, while important, has always faced management restrictions from the center; this situation could reduce Qari Ayubi’s role to that of a control figure, not a real decision-maker.
So far, no official source from the Islamic Emirate has confirmed this appointment; which itself reflects the sensitivity and fragility of the situation.
The lack of official information, along with field reports, indicates that the Taliban prefer to implement these changes in silence to avoid raising further questions in public opinion.
On the other hand, some close to Qari Ayubi have expressed concern that this new mission was without his consultation and personal will and may lead to an exacerbation of internal divisions in the middle and lower ranks of the emirate.
What is certain is that instead of reforming the power structure, the Islamic Emirate continues to seek to maintain a fragile internal balance with tactics of controlling disgruntled figures and forced displacement.
