Taliban Leader Emphasizes Limits and Responsibilities of Officials

DID Press: Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada stressed in a recent speech in Kandahar province that the group’s officials must avoid personal bias, negligence, and conflict, and carry out their duties in accordance with Sharia law while respecting the rights of the people.

Speaking at a training seminar on Tuesday, Akhundzada said officials of various Taliban institutions should perform their responsibilities consciously, without discriminating between rich and poor. He highlighted the need for proper education and training for officials to ensure they understand their roles and uphold citizens’ rights.

Akhundzada also addressed the treatment of prisoners, emphasizing that they should not be tortured or punished without a court ruling and should have access to educational opportunities.

His remarks come after Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani recently said that a government ruling through fear and force cannot be considered legitimate—a comment that drew reactions among Taliban loyalists.

Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have repeatedly accused Taliban forces of arbitrary arrests, torture, and suppression of critics and civil society activists.