RASC News Agency: A source within the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Finance has confirmed that the ministry has received direct orders from Kandahar to assess the financial requirements for organizing a grand jirga in Kabul and initiate efforts to secure the necessary funding. This development follows sharp criticism from Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, a prominent Afghanistani political figure, who recently denounced the Taliban’s plan as futile. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sayyaf argued that the jirga would be neither inclusive nor effective, stating:
“The so-called grand jirga the Taliban intends to convene where only Taliban members and their hand-picked associates will be present will do nothing to alleviate the suffering of the people. Instead, it will undermine the historical significance of this tradition. The old saying applies perfectly to them: they are the potter, the clay, the kiln, and the sole buyer of their own pottery. In truth, no one outside the Taliban will recognize this gathering as legitimate.” Many analysts share Sayyaf’s skepticism, questioning the effectiveness of such a jirga in resolving Afghanistan’s deepening political crisis. Mohammad Nazeef Shahrani, a scholar and professor at Indiana University in the United States, recalled a similar attempt by the Taliban during their first regime, which ultimately failed to secure legitimacy:
“In their previous rule, the Taliban convened 2,000 clerics in Kandahar to grant religious legitimacy to Mullah Mohammad Omar, yet it led nowhere. Now, after three and a half years in power, they are once again staging a superficial and meaningless assembly to legitimize their rule. I highly doubt this effort will yield any substantial results.” Meanwhile, Habib Rahman Hekmatyar, son of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hizb-e-Islami, suggested that the true purpose of the Taliban’s jirga is internal power consolidation rather than national reconciliation. In a post on X, he stated:
“In my opinion, the Taliban’s planned jirga serves only one purpose: to grant Mullah Hibatullah greater authority within the group. It is designed to sideline Taliban factions that seek change, question his leadership, and hold power within the movement. Ultimately, this is a strategic move to eliminate internal rivals and tighten his grip on absolute power.” Despite persistent reports of internal discord within the Taliban, the group’s official spokespersons have consistently denied any significant divisions, dismissing them as “routine ideological differences.”
As of now, the Taliban has not issued an official statement regarding the planned jirga or the high-level discussions taking place in Kandahar.
