A senior Taliban official has said that international recognition is irrelevant to the group’s legitimacy, marking a clear divergence from the stance of Taliban officials engaged in global diplomacy.
Yousuf Wafa, the Taliban-appointed governor of Balkh province and a close ally of the group’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, made the remarks during a gathering in Balkh on Thursday.
“For us, legitimacy comes from God and the people, not from the outside world,” Wafa said.
He also called for unwavering obedience to Akhundzada, urging the public to support the Taliban’s supreme leader and to implement his decrees and rulings without question.
Wafa, often referred to by observers as the “ruler of the north,” is regarded as one of Akhundzada’s most trusted figures. His comments highlight a growing internal divide within the Taliban over priorities and international engagement.
While the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul continues to lobby for formal international recognition, a central goal of its diplomacy since the group took power in 2021, Wafa’s remarks suggest that hardline factions aligned with Akhundzada view external legitimacy as secondary, if not irrelevant.
Over the past four years, Taliban officials have sought international legitimacy by offering cooperation on counterterrorism, expanding regional ties, and responding to diplomatic overtures. The group especially welcomed Russia’s recent decision to recognise their government, the first of its kind.
However, Supreme Leader Akhundzada has consistently prioritised the full implementation of his interpretation of religion over meeting international demands. He has rejected calls to ease restrictions on women and girls, particularly in education and employment.
Akhundzada has previously said, “I may lose my life, but I will not abandon Sharia,” underscoring his resistance to international pressure on human rights.
