Internal Divisions within the Taliban: Kabul–Kandahar Confrontation over the Internet and Engagement with the World
AfgNews24 Afghan News24
Internal Divisions within the Taliban: Kabul–Kandahar Confrontation over the Internet and Engagement with the World
AfgNews24 — Recent reports indicate that rifts within the Taliban leadership have deepened over issues such as foreign policy, women’s rights, and recent restrictions on internet access. According to an audio file obtained by the BBC, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, has expressed greater concern about the possibility of “internal divisions” and threats arising from within the movement than about external threats.
Main Axes of Disagreement:
Samia Yousafzai, a veteran Afghan journalist, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that five years after the Taliban’s return to power, the failure of the international community to recognize their government has become a major point of friction.
The Kandahar Perspective:
The circle close to Sheikh Hibatullah in Kandahar considers the current hardline policies against women and girls’ education to be justified and insists on their continuation.
The Kabul Perspective:
In contrast, some ministers and leaders based in Kabul believe that in order to gain international legitimacy and have sanctions lifted, changes and moderation in these policies are necessary.
The Internet Shutdown in September 2025:
One of the most prominent examples of this lack of coordination was the widespread shutdown of internet services—including fiber-optic connections, 3G, and 4G—in late September last year. Reports suggest that this move triggered disagreements between officials in Kabul and the Kandahar leadership. Although services were partially restored after several days, the incident highlighted differing views on how the country should be governed.
Nevertheless, political observers believe that these disagreements have not yet reached a level that would cause a deep split or serious fracture within the Taliban’s leadership structure. However, if they persist, they could become increasingly challenging.
