Infighting Between Taliban Factions Ensues

A resurgence of infighting between Taliban factions indicates the Supreme Leader’s desire for the group to maintain its hardline policies, even at the expense of being viewed as a legitimate government on the world stage. Currently, there are three different factions that comprise the Taliban, each with mildly differing beliefs.

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The Haqqani Network is a Pakistan and Kabul-based militant Islamist organization founded by Afghan warlords in the late 1990s. Its original leader, Jalaluddin Haqqani, was considered one of Osama bin Laden’s closest mentors. It is now led by his son, Sirajuddin Haqanni. The group has strong ties to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, with Sirajuddin Haqqani being named deputy Taliban leader in 2015. Though considered part of the larger Taliban umbrella, they are also thought to be a proxy of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence. During the war in Afghanistan, they introduced suicide bombing to the Taliban and are behind some of the most prolific suicide attacks during that time period. They also have strong military and intelligence capabilities, as well as a financial network funding global jihad. Despite this, they attempt to have less hardline policies than other factions, especially when it comes to women seeking education. They are more willing to compromise if it entails recognition as a legitimate government and foreign aid. 

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As the name suggests, the Kandahari Taliban is based in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. Led by Hibatullah Akhundaza, this group is the traditional hard line faction of the Taliban. Rather than seeking legitimacy on the global stage, this faction prioritizes ruling Afghanistan with an iron fist. They seek a pure Islamic state in which the Supreme Leader holds all control. 

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Led by Mullah Yaqoob, son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, Mullah Omar’s Taliban consists of Taliban fighters from the early years. Many are former Guantanamo Bay detainees. Though many have ties to Kandahar, they do not affiliate themselves with the Kandahari Faction. Like the Haqqani Network, they are more open to diplomatic engagement, with some taking part in the peace process with America. Mullah Omar’s Taliban is a form of middle ground between the Haqqani Network and Kandahari Faction.

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In December 2024, Kahlil Haqqani, senior Taliban official and uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani was killed along with five others in a bomb explosion in Kabul. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) quickly took credit. However, ISIS-K often takes credit for attacks they did not commit in order to bolster their image as a highly active terrorist organization. However, just before this attack, Sirajuddin Haqqani vocally criticized Hibatullah Akhundaza in Paghman, near Kabul. This topped with the two factions continually vying for power, leading analysts at the Hudson Institute to believe the bombing was an assassination at the hands of the Kandahari Taliban. Over the past two months, one Haqqani Network official was demoted, and another fled the country over support for women and girls seeking education. It is rumored that Kandahari forces deployed to Haqqani-controlled Kabul to secure key locations including the Presidential Palace. Additionally, Sirajuddin Haqqani has not been seen since his January visit to Saudi Arabia. The official story from Taliban officials is that he has safely returned. These instances indicate a power shift towards the hardline Kandahari Faction.

A view of a suburb near Kabul taken from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter May 11. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Todd L. Pouliot, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade)