RASC News Agency: Internal divisions within the Taliban’s governing structure are reportedly deepening, with a growing power struggle emerging inside the Ministry of Defense one of the most critical centers of authority in the group’s hierarchy.
According to informed sources and regional reports, Mullah Mahmood, the son of the late Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah, has recently consolidated influence within the ministry. He is currently said to be serving as head of the property division within the logistics command an administrative role that nonetheless provides access to key institutional resources and networks.
Mullah Dadullah, killed in 2007 during operations by Afghanistan’s former government forces, was widely known as one of the Taliban’s most hardline and militarily influential figures. His legacy continues to carry weight among certain Taliban factions, a factor that appears to bolster his son’s standing within the movement.
Sources indicate that Mullah Mahmood, along with a network of loyalists, is now in direct rivalry with Mullah Yaqoob, the acting Minister of Defense and son of Mullah Omar. This contest is not merely bureaucratic it reflects deeper tensions over legitimacy, leadership inheritance, and control over strategic resources.
Some reports suggest that figures close to Mullah Mahmood have gone so far as to label Mullah Yaqoob a “usurper of power,” underscoring the intensity of factional tensions. Control of the Defense Ministry carries significant implications, including command over military assets, financial channels, and extensive patronage networks.
Regional analysts note that despite efforts by the Taliban leadership to project unity, the movement faces multi-layered internal fractures. These include divisions between former field commanders, ideological hardliners, and a newer generation of administrative figures. The rivalry between Mahmood and Yaqoob is widely seen as a manifestation of these broader structural tensions.
Recent international reporting has also pointed to rising internal disputes within Taliban ranks, particularly in sectors tied to security and economic power areas where resources and influence are heavily concentrated. Such divisions risk undermining decision-making coherence and internal stability.
Although the Taliban leadership has repeatedly called for “unity, obedience, and avoidance of discord” in official messaging, continued reports of internal competition suggest these appeals have had limited practical effect.
The evolving dynamics within the Ministry of Defense point to a deeper structural contest over power, legitimacy, and resources. If left unmanaged, this rivalry could erode internal cohesion and further destabilize the Taliban’s governing framework especially as competing figures with different backgrounds, from hardline commanders to symbolic heirs of leadership, vie for influence in an increasingly complex power landscape.
