War in Taliban: Hibatullah Akhundzada captures power, Haqqani flees—what could this mean for Afghanistan?

Kabul, Afghanistan (The Uttam Hindu): Internal conflicts within the Taliban have become more apparent as the group’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, deploys his loyal fighters to key locations in Kabul. Areas like Bala Hissar Fort and Kabul International Airport, previously under the control of the Haqqani Network led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, are now secured by Akhundzada’s forces. Haqqani, who has not returned from his trip to the UAE and Saudi Arabia over a month ago, is at the center of a growing power struggle.

This shift is part of Akhundzada’s broader strategy to reduce the influence of the Haqqani Network, which has long been supported by Pakistan. The Kandahar faction, led by Akhundzada, opposes Pakistan’s involvement, and tensions escalated following Haqqani’s foreign visits, reportedly backed by Pakistan, which angered the Kandahar faction.

In the past week, a large number of Kandahar-based Taliban fighters have replaced previous security personnel in Kabul, taking control of key locations such as the airport and other strategic checkpoints. The city now appears heavily militarized, with the presence of these fighters clearly showing their dominance in Kabul's security infrastructure.