RASC News Agency: In a decisive move reflecting escalating internal rifts within the Taliban leadership, Mullah Hibatullah has deployed his loyalist forces to key strategic locations in Kabul, notably Bala Hissar and Kabul International Airport. These areas were previously dominated by the Haqqani Network, a rival faction within the Taliban hierarchy. According to informed sources, the Taliban’s supreme leader has recently imposed sweeping restrictions on the group’s members, reinforcing his grip on power as tensions mount. In a bid to secure control, he has strategically stationed his most trusted fighters in critical positions across the city.
A Kabul airport employee confirmed the deployment, stating that a substantial number of fighters from Kandahar had arrived at the airport over the past week, further consolidating Hibatullah’s military presence in the capital. Residents of Kabul have reported a heavy militarization of the city, with civilians subjected to continuous stop-and-search operations at nearly every turn. Taliban forces are meticulously monitoring movements, intensifying interrogations, and reinforcing security checkpoints. “The city feels like an open-air military encampment,” said one Kabul resident. “Taliban fighters stop people at every corner, questioning and searching them. Their behavior is tense and erratic, and the security situation seems to be deteriorating rapidly. We are deeply concerned about what may come next.”
This power shift marks the latest episode in the deepening rift between the Kandahari faction, led by Mullah Hibatullah, and the Haqqani Network, which has historically maintained significant influence in Kabul. Reports from both Kandahar and Kabul suggest that Hibatullah has deliberately repositioned his forces in highly sensitive locations, particularly within Kabul International Airport and Bala Hissar, to cement his authority over the capital. Observers note that Kabul has now been placed under near-total military lockdown, with additional reinforcements pouring in from Kandahar. Security checkpoints have multiplied, restrictions have intensified, and the city is under an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
These developments come amid growing dissent within Taliban ranks. In recent days, several senior figures within the group have openly criticized Mullah Hibatullah, accusing him of authoritarianism and monopolizing power. With tensions between the Kandahari leadership and the Haqqani faction reaching a boiling point, the situation remains highly volatile.
