Pro-Taliban Social Media Figure Rahim Sekandar Confirms He Is In Custody

Rahim Sekandar, a prominent pro-Taliban figure on social media, has confirmed that he is currently being held by the group.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: “I am imprisoned by the Taliban’s Reform Commission. A few days ago, I criticised the remarks of Mawlawi Saeedullah Saeed, but now I admit I was wrong and retract my statement.”

Sources earlier told Afghanistan International that Sekandar had been detained after criticising Taliban officials over their opposition to Taliban fighters joining the conflict between Pakistani security forces and militant groups.

In his statement, posted Thursday on his official X account, Sekandar acknowledged his detention and withdrew his earlier remarks. It remains unclear whether the message was written by him personally or posted by the Taliban using his device.

Sekandar was reportedly arrested for criticising Saeedullah Saeed, the head of the Taliban’s Reform Commission in Kabul. Saeed had stated that no one is permitted to leave the country to wage jihad without direct orders from the Taliban’s supreme leader.

In an earlier Facebook post responding to Saeed’s comments, Sekandar had written: “What exactly are you trying to prove with these statements?”

The Reform Commission, established by Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, primarily monitors matters related to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Previously, the Taliban also imprisoned General Mobin, another high-profile supporter, sentencing him to one and a half years in prison for statements and behaviour deemed inconsistent with the group’s official policies.