Afghanistan(The COW News Digital)Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban regime is facing serious internal divisions, according to a detailed report by The Diplomat, which references a leaked audio recording attributed to Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The recording has intensified concerns about growing factionalism within the Islamic Emirate and the possibility of renewed instability in the country.
In the leaked audio, Akhundzada reportedly acknowledges deep-rooted conspiracies and power struggles within the Taliban leadership. He warns that if internal conflicts continue, the very survival of the Islamic Emirate could be at risk. The remarks are seen as a rare public admission of fractures at the highest level of Taliban authority.
The dispute has increasingly taken the shape of a rivalry between the Kandahar-based leadership, loyal to Akhundzada, and the Kabul-based governing faction. While the Taliban publicly project unity, insiders suggest that cooperation between the two camps has eroded significantly, turning unity into little more than a symbolic claim.
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According to The Diplomat, tensions escalated following the killing of senior Taliban figure Khalil Haqqani, which reportedly widened the rift between the Haqqani network and the Kandahar leadership. One major flashpoint emerged when Kandahar ordered the suspension of internet and mobile services across parts of the country. Kabul authorities allegedly refused to comply, deepening mistrust between the factions.
The decision by Kabul leaders to restore internet services has reportedly been interpreted by Kandahar loyalists as an act of defiance against the supreme leader. This has fueled accusations of rebellion within Taliban ranks, particularly against figures associated with Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.
The Haqqani faction is often viewed by observers as relatively pragmatic, with reports suggesting it supports limited engagement with the international community and favors allowing girls’ education under certain conditions. In contrast, Akhundzada is believed to be surrounded by hardline clerics who oppose any policy shifts and insist on strict ideological control.
Power within the Taliban has increasingly centralized in Kandahar, weakening Kabul’s administrative authority. Despite the Haqqani network’s influence across more than 20 Afghan provinces, Kandahar continues to maintain strategic dominance over key decisions.
Analysts warn that this internal power struggle could push Afghanistan toward renewed internal conflict at a time when the country is already grappling with economic collapse, security challenges, and humanitarian crises. A recent deadly explosion in Kabul has further heightened fears that political fractures may translate into wider instability.
Observers caution that unless internal divisions are resolved, Afghanistan could once again slide toward chaos.
