A video circulating widely on social media shows Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban’s Chief of Army Staff, traveling on a donkey through the rugged terrain of Badakhshan. The footage has triggered intense speculation regarding his current standing within the Taliban hierarchy, with many viewing it as a sign of his diminishing influence .
Observers point out that the commander, who once traveled exclusively by military helicopter, appears to have lost those privileges. Analysts suggest this shift indicates internal rifts and a significant reduction in his authority, leaving one of the group’s most prominent military figures without basic transport logistics .
Critics have seized on the imagery, noting the irony for a commander who used heavy military force against locals to secure his position. They argue the visual of the army chief on a donkey symbolizes his marginalization, with comments suggesting that while the “helicopters have flown away,” he is left behind with nothing but a donkey .
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