Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani has criticised senior members of the group who, he said, played little or no role in the war but now claim credit for the Taliban’s victory and return to power.
Speaking at a gathering in Paktika province on Tuesday, October 14, Haqqani expressed frustration that the sacrifices of Taliban fighters were being overlooked, while some individuals “make grand claims” in the media and public meetings.
He urged such figures to “refrain from boastful behaviour” and to recognise the struggles of those who fought on the battlefield. “Do not act in ways that will cause this position and system to be taken away from you,” Haqqani warned. “Just as those stronger than you were once overthrown, God has now granted you this position.”
Although Haqqani did not name anyone, sources told Afghanistan International that his remarks were directed at members of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s inner circle, particularly Neda Mohammad Nadim, the group’s minister of higher education.
Nadim, a hardline Kandahar loyalist, has reportedly begun referring to himself as the “Conqueror of Kabul”, a title previously claimed by Haqqani. The two figures represent rival factions within the Taliban, with Haqqani often viewed as part of a more pragmatic bloc, while Akhundzada’s supporters maintain a rigid ideological stance.
Haqqani reminded Taliban officials to remain humble, saying that many of them were previously “unknown and fearful of drone strikes,” but now enjoyed power and prominence. He warned that arrogance could “tarnish the sacrifices” made by Taliban fighters.
The remarks come amid rising internal tensions within the group, further strained by recent deadly clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces. Analysts say the fighting has exposed divisions over how the group should respond to Pakistan, with some advocating a tougher stance and others urging restraint.
Haqqani, who has remained silent on the border conflict, has seen his influence gradually eroded by Akhundzada’s Kandahar faction since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.