Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has convened the group’s senior officials including governors and district chiefs in Kandahar to discuss the future of Bagram Air Base and other key issues, sources told Afghanistan International.
The three-day meeting began on Saturday, 4 October, in Kandahar, the group’s stronghold. According to the sources, Akhundzada plans to deliver “recommendations on communication and reforms” and issue “directives for dismissing members” accused of disobedience.
The Taliban have not issued an official statement on the gathering.
The meeting follows mounting concern within the Taliban leadership over US President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about regaining control of Bagram Air Base. CNN has previously reported that Trump has been privately consulting US national security officials on potential ways to reclaim the facility from the Taliban.
On 18 September, Trump told reporters that he was “trying to get Bagram back.” His comments drew a strong reaction from Taliban officials. Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban’s army chief, said the group “will not surrender even an inch of Afghan soil to foreign forces.”
Tajmir Jawad, the Taliban’s deputy intelligence chief, also delivered a fiery speech without naming Trump warning that the group would resume suicide attacks if threatened.
On 3 October, Taliban deputy spokesman Hamidullah Fitrat shared a video showing Taliban fighters singing a chant pledging readiness for suicide missions. The lyrics said that while the group remained committed to peace, any “mistake” against them would be met with suicide attacks.
