The Taliban deployed heavy weaponry at Kandahar’s Eidgah Mosque on the first day of Eid al-Fitr to secure the presence of their reclusive leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, according to images obtained by Afghanistan International.
The security measures were reportedly prompted by perceived threats against Akhundzada. In addition to the military deployment, the Taliban imposed a strict ban on mobile phones inside the mosque. Sources confirmed that Taliban forces closely monitored worshippers and cracked down on any violations of the phone ban.
Elite members of Akhundzada’s security detail were stationed both inside and around the mosque in the days leading up to Eid, effectively restricting public access to the area. Civilians were barred from entering or moving near the premises as part of the heightened security protocol.
Akhundzada, who has remained largely out of public view since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, is known to meet only with a limited inner circle. His rare public appearances are tightly controlled and heavily guarded.
Sources noted that the type of heavy weapons deployed around the mosque were typically reserved for large-scale combat operations. The move is seen not only as a precautionary security measure but also as a deliberate show of force by the Taliban leadership.
