In a press statement, Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, voiced his dissatisfaction with the latest United Nations (UN) report, suggesting bias or influence from fugitive opponents of the movement. The Taliban, an organization under UN sanctions for terrorist activities, perceive the report as damaging to the credibility of the UN.
The Taliban's main grievances revolve around allegations of leadership divisions, harboring terrorists, involvement in drug smuggling, totalitarianism, and Pashto-centrism. They dismiss these claims as part of ongoing enemy propaganda.
What are the contents of the report?
The UN's 14th Report, produced by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, highlights concerns over the sustainability of Taliban unity and warns of a potential civil war if current policies persist. Disagreements within the Taliban leadership primarily revolve around interactions with the international community, with pragmatists and ultraconservatives taking divergent stances. The decision-making power lies with the ultraconservative faction led by Emir Khaibatulla Akhundzada, who strengthens his personal authority and restricts external influence.
While the Kabul government demonstrates greater willingness to engage with the international community than its Kandahar counterpart, there is no indication of ideological moderation. The report suggests that sanctions imposed on the Taliban have not effectively influenced their policies, although the group consistently calls for their removal.
Tensions persist between Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Minister of Internal Affairs, and Abdul-Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs. The power struggle between the two revolves around influence, resource control, and involvement in terrorist activities, such as the alleged killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Haqqani criticizes Baradar, but the latter refuses to back down. Despite the internal conflicts, many countries view Mohammad Yakub, the acting Head of the Ministry of Defense, as a potential replacement for Emir Haibatullah Akhundzada. Yakub is reportedly willing to assume this role, while Haqqani supports him and prefers a behind-the-scenes position.
Regarding social issues, the Taliban currently has no plans to allow girls to attend schools and universities, waiting for the international community's response to settle down. The group takes satisfaction in diverting opponents' attention to the women's issue, effectively overshadowing other concerns.
The report acknowledges the Taliban's effectiveness in some economic matters, as well as the reduction in crime in certain areas through the implementation of Sharia punishments. However, the primary obstacle to major infrastructure projects remains the presence of the Islamic State (IS), which intimidates businesses. The Taliban discreetly seeks intelligence and assistance in combating IS, which has infiltrated the ranks of the Haqqani and Yakub factions but failed in assassination attempts against them.
The Taliban has no intentions of severing ties with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, as doing so could escalate tensions with Pakistan. Additionally, the Emir has ordered the regional branch of the GUR to exert pressure on Salafi ulema to adopt the Deobandi school of thought, with punishment looming for non-compliance.
The report notes that the Taliban engages in mining and exporting gold, lapis lazuli, and utilizes cryptocurrencies through platforms like Binance and P2P for shadow financing. The production of methamphetamine has surpassed that of heroin, overseen by the Haqqani faction. The presence of various extremist groups, such as Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, TTP, IDVT, Jamaat Ansarulla, IMU, Khatiba imam al-Bukhari, and the Islamic Jihad Group, is also highlighted, along with their respective leaders and estimated numbers of militants.
The UN report sheds light on the complex dynamics within the Taliban and their ongoing challenges, providing insight into their internal struggles, economic activities, and relationships with other extremist groups.
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