“Obey Only”: Mullah Hibatullah’s Warning to Taliban Dissidents.
Amid escalating internal divisions within the Taliban, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group’s leader, reiterated in a recent speech the importance of obedience, avoiding dissent, and setting aside disagreements.
He urged Taliban officials to steer clear of differing opinions, obey one another, and, as he put it, “cling to the religion of God,” remarks delivered in the tense context of the Taliban leadership.
This speech followed sharp criticisms by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, regarding governance issues and the challenges faced by the Afghan people. Haqqani’s statements, as a prominent figure within the Taliban, sparked widespread reactions within the group and highlighted deep rifts in the power structure.
Following these remarks, the Taliban Ministry of Higher Education issued an unprecedented response directly to Haqqani, warning him not to “appoint himself as Amir,” as Afghanistan has only one Amir.
This clear stance underscores both the sensitivity of leadership within the Taliban and the depth of internal disputes, which appear increasingly exposed to public view.
