The head of the Afghanistan Freedom Front’s political committee has described Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s order to remove the word “acting” from government titles as a “final bullet to the heart” of those still hoping for engagement with the group.
In a post Friday on X, Dawood Naji said that for the past four years, some proponents of dialogue with the Taliban viewed the “acting” designation as a sign the group was open to change and could eventually accept an “inclusive government.”
He noted that Taliban supporters argued the group’s leadership regarded its administration as an interim arrangement.
“Today, Hibatullah, with a clear and explicit decree, shattered the illusions of those waiting for engagement, showing once again that engagement is nothing but a mirage, and the Taliban will not change,” Naji wrote.
The AFF political chief said he hoped advocates of engagement would now “choose between total surrender or full resistance, because there is no third way.”
On Thursday, marking the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, Akhundzada announced that the “acting” title would be removed from all government positions, and ministers would henceforth be recognised as official cabinet members.
