Taliban Accuse Hekmatyar of Rebellion, Seek Confiscation of Hezb-e-Islami Assets
DID Press: A leaked document allegedly issued by the Taliban’s Office of Administrative Affairs accuses Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan, of maintaining suspicious links with Pakistan, receiving foreign financial assistance, attempting to create insecurity and cooperating operationally with the Islamic State group (ISIS). The document reportedly calls for the confiscation of the party’s assets and the issuance of a religious edict declaring Hekmatyar guilty of baghi — armed rebellion against the authorities.
The allegations come amid growing tensions between the Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami. The two sides previously fought against the former Afghan government and foreign forces, but relations reportedly deteriorated after Hekmatyar signed a peace agreement with the Afghan Republic and joined the political process.
Taliban sources say the current dispute is rooted partly in events during the war. They allege that, after Hekmatyar’s peace agreement with the United States and the former Afghan government, members of Hezb-e-Islami provided US forces with information about hundreds of Taliban members and assisted in operations against the group.
A local Taliban official claimed that US forces, working with Hezb-e-Islami members, attacked Taliban positions during a night operation in a district, killing several members of the group.
The official alleged that 11 Taliban members from an extended Pashtun family were killed in Nerkh district of Maidan Wardak province, leaving the family’s women without male guardians.
The official also said that, without the Taliban’s general amnesty decree, Hezb-e-Islami members would have faced execution. He warned that action against the party could have far-reaching consequences because it retains considerable social support in parts of Maidan Wardak.
Taliban sources further claim that dozens of influential Taliban officials previously belonged to or commanded units within Hezb-e-Islami. They say these connections make any move against commanders close to Hekmatyar a sensitive issue within the Taliban’s own ranks.
The reported accusations, together with calls to seize the party’s assets and issue a baghi ruling against Hekmatyar, point to an escalation in tensions between the two sides. Given Hezb-e-Islami’s reported local influence and the former ties between its members and some Taliban officials, any action against the party could deepen internal divisions within the Taliban.
Important verification note: The document’s authenticity and the allegations it contains have not been independently verified. The claims about the deaths in Nerkh district also remain unconfirmed independently.