Hekmatyar to Taliban: People Must Have a Say in Their Future

DID Press: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Afghanistan’s Hezb-e Islami party, has sharply criticized the Taliban’s governing style, calling for greater public participation in determining the country’s political future.

In a post shared on his official social media account, Hekmatyar emphasized the people’s right to choose their destiny and condemned the lack of inclusivity under Taliban rule. Drawing on a Quranic analogy, he wrote: “Even the honeybee, a tiny creature, chooses its queen freely. Why should the people of Afghanistan be denied a role in shaping their own future?”

His remarks come amid growing concerns over the Taliban’s recent decision to shut down internet access nationwide — a move that was implemented without prior notice and has sparked widespread criticism both domestically and internationally.

The internet blackout has severely disrupted digital businesses, media outlets, and online education. The impact is particularly harsh on Afghan women and girls, many of whom rely solely on online platforms for their education due to existing restrictions.

Human rights activists have denounced the blackout as another step in the Taliban’s ongoing campaign to curtail individual freedoms and isolate the Afghan population from the outside world.

According to reports, the order to suspend internet services was issued directly by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, with the stated aim of preventing the spread of “immoral content.”