The Afghan regime is experiencing a power struggle. Despite being in power for more than three years, still conflicts exist among the two factions of Taliban leadership: the one led by the supreme leader of the Islamist movement, Emir Haibatullah Akhundzada, who is a strict adherent to Shariah law and resists external engagement. On the other hand, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob believe that the regime must engage in dialogue with the outside world and make compromises in order to survive. Unlike Mullah Omar, the current Taliban Emir, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada lacks the authority and unifying influence needed to keep the group intact.
To strengthen his grip on power, Haibatullah has institutionalized gender apartheid, isolated Afghanistan from the international community, and maintained ties with terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reportedly meeting with their leaders regularly. However, these efforts have failed to consolidate his rule or ensure internal cohesion. His push to centralize authority favoring commanders from his own Noorzai tribe has deepened divisions rather than fostering unity. Over the past three years, the Taliban had a crucial opportunity to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan, but they have squandered it.
The Taliban regime is collapsing under internal power struggles, economic turmoil, and governance failures. Matin Bek, in his article published in The Cipher, highlights how factionalism driven by regional, tribal, and ethnic divisions is weakening the group. Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada’s leadership has alienated key factions, while economic decline and diplomatic isolation fuel growing discontent. With financial aid decreasing and international pressure mounting, the Taliban’s grip on power is becoming increasingly fragile.
Further exposing the regime’s corruption, Taliban Justice Minister Abdul Hakim Sharia has resigned, denouncing officials as “thieves, traitors, and corrupt.” His departure confirms what the world already suspects: that the Taliban’s rule is built on deception and exploitation. These fractures within the leadership, combined with economic mismanagement and ties to extremist groups like Al-Qaeda and TTP, illustrate the group’s inability to govern effectively. The Afghan people deserve better than a regime that thrives on oppression and internal discord.
These revelations further expose the Taliban’s governance failures and deepening internal divisions. The corruption within the ranks, where commanders divert Mujahideen salaries and food funds for personal gain, undermines morale and exacerbates Afghanistan’s economic struggles. This misuse of resources not only weakens the Taliban’s control but also reinforces the perception that their rule is built on exploitation rather than justice.
Meanwhile, reports of Khalifa Serajuddin Haqqani’s prolonged stay in the UAE, alongside Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai’s departure, point to growing fractures within the regime. The widening rift between the Haqqani network and the Kandahar leadership, fueled by disputes over policies like the ban on girls’ education, signals increasing instability within the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA). While the Taliban downplay these tensions, their internal struggles are becoming more evident, raising concerns for both Afghans and the international community.
Rather than establishing a constitutional government based on popular consent, they have ruled through repression, issuing decrees that strip Afghans of political, social, and civil rights. Rather than alleviating poverty or creating economic opportunities, they have monopolized the nation’s wealth, particularly the lucrative mining sector, which is now controlled by figures like Haji Bashir Noorzai.
Moreover, the arrest of Commissioner Torkham, Moulvi Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, on February 17, 2025, underscores the entrenched corruption within Afghanistan’s administration. His detention, along with previous accusations against associates like Moulvi Basheer, highlights a pattern of financial mismanagement at the highest levels. This development raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and justice, further exposing the Taliban’s failure to uphold ethical governance.
The Taliban’s internal divisions, compounded by economic hardship and security threats from ISIS-K, are fueling growing dissent within its ranks. Many mid-level commanders and fighters, disillusioned by unfulfilled promises of stability and prosperity post-U.S. withdrawal, are increasingly frustrated. If these power struggles escalate, the Taliban risks fracturing into rival factions, weakening its grip on Afghanistan. Such fragmentation could create openings for ISIS-K, opposition forces, or regional actors to exploit the instability, further deepening Afghanistan’s crisis.
In brief, the Taliban regime stands at a critical crossroads; either it unites under cohesive leadership or risks descending into chaos. The widening rift between Haibatullah Akhundzada’s faction and the Haqqani-Yaqoob alliance is eroding internal stability, threatening to fracture the group into rival factions. If left unchecked, these divisions will pave the way for ISIS-K and opposition forces to exploit the turmoil, further destabilizing Afghanistan. The economy is crumbling, governance failures are mounting, and public discontent is growing. Without internal unity and strategic reforms, the Taliban’s grip on power will weaken, potentially leading to the regime’s collapse. A divided Taliban will not only accelerate Afghanistan’s downfall but also invite greater external interference, worsening an already fragile situation.
