Taliban Internal Sources: Senior Leaders Lack Basic Literacy.
Informed sources from within the Taliban say that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Mullah Hassan Akhund, two key decision-making figures of the group, lack even basic reading and writing literacy.
According to these sources, they are not only unable to read the Holy Quran directly from the text, but also face serious difficulties in ordinary reading and writing.
The sources say that this reality has been concealed within the Taliban’s internal structure for many years.
Based on the same information, these two senior Taliban officials were previously affiliated with the “Khalqi” faction during the rule of Hafizullah Amin.
Sources emphasize that despite the establishment of religious schools inside the presidential palace and in areas linked to former presidential guards, Mullah Baradar and Mullah Hassan Akhund showed no interest in acquiring religious literacy or even basic reading and writing skills.
According to the sources, this situation is widespread among a large portion of Taliban cadres.
The sources add that a significant number of Taliban members, despite being illiterate or having only very basic literacy, consider themselves religious authorities and readily accuse the people of Afghanistan of disbelief.
This clear contradiction raises serious questions about the religious legitimacy, ideological sincerity, and religious competence of Afghanistan’s current rulers and highlights the deep gap between the Taliban’s claims and their internal reality.
