A United Nations Security Council report has been denounced by the Taliban as “baseless and biased” for describing the Afghan administration as “highly exclusionary” and “repressive.” The report, revealed earlier in June by the UNSC’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, acknowledged that the Taliban’s governance constructions continue to be exclusionary, Pashtun-centred, and repressive in the path of opposition.
The report also highlighted that Kandahar’s return as the seat of power, much like its position in the course of the Taliban’s rule within the 1990s, bypasses senior Taliban ministers in Kabul due to the decision-making process. It revealed that the group faces internal battle over essential insurance policies, centralisation of power, and management of Afghanistan’s financial and natural resources. The ongoing power struggles risk causing an outbreak of armed battle between rival factions, the report added.
Over the previous few months, a minimal of two spokespersons based mostly in Kabul have been asked to relocate to Kandahar, fuelling speculations of an influence shift from the capital to the southern city where supreme leader Haibatullah Akhunzada is predicated. In April, the Taliban’s major spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, was asked to work from both areas, whereas another deputy spokesman, Innamullah Samangani, was transferred to Kandahar. The Taliban’s data ministry did not provide any reasons for the transfer.
Mujahid dismissed the report’s allegations of strife as baseless and indicative of “obvious hostility” towards Afghans. He claimed that rumours of disagreements among the group’s leaders are a continuation of the propaganda from the past 20 years, referring to the US war and occupation.
Since taking management of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has elevated restrictions on media freedom and women’s rights, with girls’ high faculties remaining closed. The group initially promised to open faculties after infrastructure upgrades for gender segregation, but instead further curtailed women’s rights by banning them from universities and employment.
Analysts counsel that decrees excluding girls and ladies from education and work have been issued from Kandahar, the bottom of the Taliban chief. However, several Taliban leaders have supported women’s empowerment, stating that Islam ensures women’s proper to training and work. Taliban officials have denied any rift inside their management.
The UN report described Akhunzada as “reclusive and elusive,” with elaborate security measures in place throughout meetings. Effortless cited an unnamed UNSC member state claiming that Akhunzada survived two bouts of COVID-19, leaving him with weakened respiratory system, along with present kidney issues. This has led to speculation that senior Taliban figures are ready for his well being to lead to a natural succession.
The report stated: “Hibatullah has been proudly immune to external strain to average his policies. There is no indication that different Kabul-based Taliban leaders can influence coverage substantially. There is little prospect of change within the near to medium term.”
Recently, the Taliban has tried to exclude all overseas organisations from the education sector. UN secretary-general’s chief spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, stated on Thursday that this may be one other “horrendous step backward” for the Afghan individuals. The Taliban has not commented on the training NGO move..