Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, on Saturday travelled to Zabul province following a visit to Kandahar and underscored the need to fully implement the orders of the group’s leader in meetings with local officials.
Referring to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, Haqqani said: “Regarding the decrees and guidance of the Amir al-Mumineen and our leadership, we will never reach a point where we are compelled to seek guidance from anyone else.”
He again stressed the importance of unity, saying: “Unity and cohesion are not created by individuals alone. They are achieved through full commitment and loyalty to the leadership, and through sincerity.”
Haqqani said maintaining security, preserving unity and safeguarding Afghanistan’s sovereignty are the responsibility of all Afghans.
His remarks come after he last week criticised the Taliban’s harsh treatment of the public during a speech in Khost province, comments that drew reactions from figures close to Akhundzada.
A day earlier, Haqqani made an unannounced trip to Kandahar, where videos circulated on social media showing him at the main mosque in the Aino Mina township.
During his visit to Zabul, Haqqani also said the Taliban administration is pursuing national development projects and that its revenues are generated from domestic sources.
The senior Taliban official acknowledged that Afghanistan remains a war-ravaged country facing serious challenges, but said it is becoming increasingly self-sufficient and “dependent on no one.”
