RASC News Agency: The Taliban have significantly reinforced their security presence in Kandahar, deploying additional forces to the provincial capital in response to growing threats. Local sources indicate that this move follows high-level discussions between Taliban officials and their supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, regarding potential security risks posed by various groups operating along Kandahar’s northern and border regions. Taliban representatives confirmed that Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, the group’s Defense Minister, convened a security meeting in Kandahar alongside Sadr Ibrahim, Deputy Minister of Interior; Mullah Shirin, the Taliban-appointed governor of Kandahar; and several senior intelligence officials. A source present at the meeting disclosed that the governor issued a stark warning about imminent threats to the city, citing intelligence reports suggesting the possibility of coordinated attacks in the coming months.
During the meeting, Sadr Ibrahim emphasized that certain groups were attempting to destabilize the province through the spread of misinformation. Meanwhile, Mullah Yaqoob announced that a specialized police and intelligence unit had been dispatched from Kabul to Kandahar, assuming control over key transport routes and strategic locations. While he refrained from specifying the exact number of reinforcements, an insider confirmed to media outlets that the figure could be as high as 2,000. Nazir Ahmad Nasir, a representative from Hibatullah Akhundzada’s office, was also present at the meeting, signaling the supreme leader’s direct involvement in these security measures. The Taliban’s Security and Clearance Commission later issued a statement confirming that the meeting addressed border security, law enforcement, and narcotics-related concerns. However, one of the most notable aspects of the gathering was the absence of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Interior. His seat was instead occupied by Sadr Ibrahim, further fueling speculation of internal power struggles within the regime.
Haqqani’s prolonged absence from key security meetings, coupled with his declining media presence over the past month, has intensified speculation regarding deepening fractures within the Taliban particularly between the Kandahar-based leadership and the Haqqani network. A recent report by the UN Secretary-General underscores these divisions, noting that Haqqani’s last confirmed public appearance occurred four months ago in Kandahar, where he reportedly met with Akhundzada. His continued absence, alongside the Taliban’s escalating security measures in Kandahar, suggests mounting internal tensions and possible shifts in the group’s power structure.
