Sheikh Sami Ghaznavi, a prominent Taliban cleric, declared during his Thursday speech that supporting “continuing jihad” is one of the main duties of an “Emir.”
This stance directly contradicts the orders of Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, who has prohibited fighters from engaging in conflict within Pakistan.
Taliban-Pakistan relations have deteriorated since the group seized power in August 2021. The Durand Line border dispute and Taliban’s implicit support for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have fueled tensions between the neighbors.
Pakistan has conducted airstrikes inside Afghan territory in response to TTP attacks, increasing anti-Pakistan sentiment in the region.
Ghaznavi’s statements highlight internal divisions within Taliban leadership.
The group now faces the challenging task of balancing its strategic interests and maintaining relationships with aligned groups like TTP while simultaneously attempting to establish diplomatic and economic ties with neighboring countries.
