Internal Strife: The Battle for Control Within the Taliban

Fri Jan 16 2026 10:57:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A clash of visions within the Taliban's leadership leads to an unprecedented internet shutdown and a rebellion among their ministers, revealing deep rifts and differing strategies for governing Afghanistan.

Recent events have exposed significant internal divisions within the Taliban, particularly between the leadership in Kandahar, led by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, and a more progressive faction based in Kabul. Following Akhundzada's abrupt internet shutdown order, the Kabul group acted decisively to restore connections, marking a pivotal moment in the Taliban's governance and hinting at potential fractures in unity. As the group grapples with conflicting priorities regarding governance, women's rights, and international engagement, the future of Afghanistan remains uncertain.

Rift at top of the Taliban: BBC reveals clash of wills behind internet shutdown

BBC Afghan

It was a piece of audio obtained by the BBC that revealed what worries the Taliban's leader most.

Not an external danger, but one from within Afghanistan, which the Taliban seized control of as the previous government collapsed and the US withdrew in 2021.

He warned of insiders in the government pitted against each other in the Islamic Emirate the Taliban set up to govern the country.

In the leaked clip, the supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada can be heard giving a speech saying that internal disagreements could eventually bring them all down.

As a result of these divisions, the emirate will collapse and end, he warned.

The speech, made to Taliban members at a madrassa in the southern city of Kandahar in January 2025, was more fuel to the fire of rumours which had been circulating for months - rumours of differences at the very top of the Taliban.

But the Taliban leadership has always denied this split, which was further evidenced by a recent order from Akhundzada to shut off the internet across the country. The unexpected rebellion by the Kabul group to restore it marked a significant moment in the internal struggle for control.

Now, experts point to a clear divide between two factions: one loyal to Akhundzada’s strict vision of governance and another pushing for a more moderate approach that includes engagement with the international community and education for women and girls.

As factions within the Taliban navigate their power dynamics, the future of governance in Afghanistan hangs in the balance, as both sides grapple with competing visions for the nation.