Sirajuddin Haqqani’s Kandahar Visit Signals Power Play at Taliban Core

DID Press: Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban interior minister, made a politically significant visit to Kandahar, attending a memorial for the mother of Taliban founder Mullah Omar and meeting with locals, demonstrating his influence in the heart of the group’s power.

The trip comes a week after Haqqani publicly criticized the Taliban leadership, calling a government “built on fear and oppression” unsustainable. His presence in Kandahar—home to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada—highlights ongoing internal divisions at the top of the movement.

While Akhundzada has attempted to limit Haqqani’s authority, the interior minister’s control over security networks and his popular base prevents his full marginalization. Haqqani’s public engagement and media-visible interactions with citizens emphasize his social and political standing not just in eastern Afghanistan but also in the Taliban’s southern power center.

Analysts view this as a clear signal to Akhundzada, reflecting concerns about leadership rifts and the uncertain future of the Taliban hierarchy. In response, some officials have stressed the need for loyalty pledges and internal unity.