RASC News Agency: Political and security analysts suggest that Sirajuddin Haqqani fears assassination or elimination by Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, while Hibatullah, in turn, is wary of a potential coup orchestrated by Haqqani against his rule. Experts believe that Haqqani deliberately skipped the Taliban’s high-level security summit in Kandahar, fearing he might be targeted by Hibatullah’s loyalists from the Kandahar faction. Haqqani has relocated from the Ministry of Interior in Kabul to eastern Afghanistan, distancing himself from the Taliban’s power center. Despite being summoned by Hibatullah for a critical security meeting, he refused to attend, citing concerns for his personal safety.
Sources close to RASC confirm that Haqqani has severed ties with Hibatullah and his inner circle, yet maintains close connections with senior Taliban figures opposing Hibatullah’s rule, including Mullah Baradar, Mullah Yaqoob, Mullah Waseq, and Tajmir Jawad. Moreover, Haqqani has continued to engage with key foreign actors, notably Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the CIA, signaling a broader realignment of allegiances within the Taliban. His removal from power by Hibatullah has pushed Haqqani to take steps that the Kandahar leadership views as insubordination. He has publicly criticized Hibatullah’s authoritarian grip on power, condemned the continued closure of girls’ schools, and established direct contact with former political and jihadist leaders. Additionally, he has begun building his own power base within the Taliban while traveling across northeastern Afghanistan, effectively sidelining his former ministerial position and refusing to acknowledge Kandahar’s authority.
Security analysts warn that Hibatullah sees Haqqani as an existential threat, as Haqqani enjoys not only a strong military presence and control over strategic regions, but also political backing from figures such as Hamid Karzai. Reports further suggest that Mullah Yaqoob and Mullah Baradar are discreetly aligning with Haqqani to counterbalance Hibatullah’s dominance. While Haqqani appears to be positioning himself for a power grab, analysts believe he will not act without U.S. support. In a development fueling speculation, some senior Taliban figures have reportedly opened channels of communication with Washington, leading to the recent removal of the U.S. bounty on Haqqani’s capture.
