A rare act of defiance at the very top of the Taliban has exposed deep fractures within Afghanistan’s ruling leadership. A BBC investigation reveals how senior ministers quietly overturned a direct order from supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to shut down the internet—triggering an unprecedented internal power struggle.
At the heart of the dispute is a dramatic episode from late September, when Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered a nationwide shutdown of the internet and phone services—only for the decision to be quietly reversed days later by senior ministers based in Kabul.
The BBC reports that the reversal was not a technical correction, but a direct challenge to Akhundzada’s authority—an unprecedented move in a movement built on absolute obedience.
Leaked Audio Exposes Taliban’s Internal Fears
The investigation is anchored by leaked audio obtained by the BBC, in which Akhundzada warns Taliban members that internal divisions could ultimately bring down the Islamic Emirate.
“Because of these divisions, the emirate will collapse,” Akhundzada is heard saying during a speech delivered at a madrassa in Kandahar in January 2025.
The audio fuelled long-swirling rumours of a split within the Taliban—claims the group has repeatedly denied publicly.
Kandahar vs Kabul: Two Visions for Afghanistan
According to the BBC, the Taliban leadership is now divided into two competing power centres:
- The Kandahar faction, loyal to Akhundzada, advocates an ultra-conservative Islamic state, isolated from the modern world and governed directly by clerics under the supreme leader’s control.
- The Kabul faction, made up of senior ministers and commanders, supports engagement with the international community, economic stability, and limited concessions such as restoring girls’ education beyond primary school.
Insiders describe the divide as “Kandahar House versus Kabul.”
Internet Shutdown Becomes Flashpoint
The power struggle came to a head when Akhundzada—who deeply distrusts the internet and believes it violates Islamic principles—ordered telecom services cut across the country.
According to Taliban insiders cited by the BBC, senior Kabul-based leaders including Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahidopposed the decision.
After the shutdown threatened governance, commerce, and ministerial authority, the Kabul faction persuaded Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund to reverse the order—effectively overriding the supreme leader.
Experts told the BBC the act amounted to “nothing short of a rebellion.”
Consolidation of Power in Kandahar
Since returning to power in August 2021, Akhundzada has steadily centralised authority, ruling from Kandahar rather than Kabul and surrounding himself with loyal hardliners.
Key decisions—including bans on girls’ education and women’s employment—have been issued without consultation, fuelling frustration among ministers tasked with running the government.
The UN has noted that Akhundzada has also expanded security forces under his direct control, bypassing Kabul-based ministries.
Haqqani, Yaqoob and the Kabul Bloc
While not considered moderate, the Kabul faction is described as pragmatic—leaders who have “seen the world” and fear the current model is unsustainable.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, once among the FBI’s most wanted, has rebranded himself as a statesman, while Mohammad Yaqoob enjoys popularity among younger Taliban members. Baradar, meanwhile, retains deep loyalty within the movement and led negotiations with the US.
Yet openly challenging Akhundzada remains taboo.
“Obedience to the Amir is mandatory,” a former Taliban member told the BBC.
Why This Time Was Different
Analysts suggest the internet shutdown crossed a red line because it threatened power, money and governance, unlike earlier edicts on women’s rights which—while controversial—did not directly impact ministerial control.
“Turning off the internet threatened their privileges in a way other decisions never did,” one expert said.
What Comes Next?
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has denied any split, insisting differences are merely “family disagreements” and reaffirming Akhundzada’s final authority.
However, recent speeches by Haqqani warning against leaders who abandon public trust, and counter-statements from Kandahar loyalists stressing absolute obedience, suggest tensions remain unresolved.
As Afghanistan enters 2026, analysts say the central question persists: will internal dissent within the Taliban ever translate into real change—particularly for Afghan women and girls?
So far, the answer appears to be no.
