Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban's Interior Minister, has emphasised on the importance of maintaining unity within the group, warning that the distribution of power should not create divisions.
At a three-day meeting in Kandahar, Haqqani highlighted that unity had been a key factor in preventing internal issues among the Taliban prior to their recent takeover of Afghanistan.
Haqqani expressed his concern over the emergence of factionalism within the Taliban, which he found more troubling than the loss of life among their members.
He lamented the identification of Taliban factions under various names, including the Haqqani network, and urged for cohesion.
During the meeting, which included 600 senior military and political officials at the 205 Al-Badr Army Corps, Haqqani stated, "We are united as before, under the leadership of one Amir. We did not fight for power. Before the conquest, there were no issues among the Taliban across Afghanistan, and this was due to the blessings of unity and solidarity."
This gathering also saw other senior Taliban figures addressing the attendees. Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Taliban's Intelligence Chief, warned of an ongoing "cold and ideological war" against the group. He dismissed rumours of internal divisions as unfounded, asserting that the primary objective of such rumours was to create a perception of disunity within the Taliban.
Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, cautioned against the labels assigned to Taliban officials by external observers, such as "hardliner”, "moderate”, and "intellectual”. He stressed on the importance of maintaining "unity and obedience”.
Noor Mohammad Saqib, the Taliban's Minister of Guidance, Hajj, and Endowments, praised the Taliban government as an exemplary Islamic system, noting that its success depended on strict obedience to the Amir. He remarked, "There were many movements composed of scholars, but they perished because they lacked obedience."
Additionally, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's Foreign Minister, emphasised on the need for the Taliban army to garner public support. He urged military personnel to avoid actions that might provoke public resentment. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid echoed this sentiment, stating, "The army is the main pillar of a country. The collapse of regimes stems from the collapse of the army." Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban's Chief of Staff, attributed the group's victory to their unwavering belief.
The meeting concluded with Mullah Hibatullah addressing the military and political leaders, as well as the Taliban cabinet members, cautioning that internal disagreements and distrust could lead to the group's downfall.
