Haqqani summoned to Kandahar amid rising internal tensions
Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada has summoned Sirajuddin Haqqani, the head of the Haqqani Network, to Kandahar to explain his recent critical statements. Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob, Mullah Baradar, Governor of Takhar Yusuf Wafa, and Minister of Higher Education Nida Muhammad Nadeem have also been called. However, Sirajuddin Haqqani used this occasion as a show of strength in Kandahar, sounding alarm bells for the Kandahar leadership.
According to sources in Kandahar, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani arrived in the city on Thursday night following the summons. Contrary to expectations and routine, he took Mullah Yaqoob and Mullah Baradar with him to offer Friday prayers at the central mosque in Aino Mena—an upscale area considered a stronghold of the Haibatullah faction.
Public reaction raises concerns for Haibatullah’s leadership
Security officials faced intense panic after the prayers when the gathered crowd rushed forward to kiss Sirajuddin Haqqani’s hands. Surprisingly, no one paid any attention to Mullah Yaqoob or Mullah Baradar, who were standing right there. Breaking from his usual protocol, Haqqani allowed the public to express their emotions and refused to leave the spot despite the requests of security personnel.
This marked Sirajuddin Haqqani’s first-ever public appearance in a major public space in Kandahar. Sources suggest that this display of power in the heart of Kandahar by the Interior Minister and Haqqani Group leader is being viewed as a significant turning point in internal Taliban politics and a sign of danger for the Haibatullah regime.
A calculated message to the Kandahar leadership
The promotion of this incident by the Haqqani Group on social media indicates their intent to message the Haibatullah faction that the Haqqani Network’s roots have strengthened even in Kandahar—a city regarded as the Supreme Leader’s center and an unchallengeable fortress.
Observers claim that the internal rifts within the Taliban are no longer merely policy-based or administrative; they have transformed into a direct struggle for power, resources, and survival. What happened in that Kandahar mosque was not accidental or a coincidence, but a calculated political and physical show of force by the Haqqanis.
According to some analysts, this act serves as a clear warning to Haibatullah that his authority is no longer absolute. Reports suggest that Haibatullah and his inner circle view the Haqqani Group as a serious threat, while the Haqqani Group considers Haibatullah and the hardline religious circle around him as the primary obstacle in their path.
Tensions expected to escalate in the coming days
In the coming days, this tension is expected to intensify. If Haibatullah ignores this display, he risks appearing weak; however, if he reacts harshly, the risk of an open split within the Taliban increases.
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