Rumours abound of Sirajuddin Haqqani’s resignation

KARACHI: Media reports from Afghanistan claim that Afghanistan’s interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, has resigned.

According to these reports, Haqqani submitted his resignation to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who accepted it.

The reports suggest that internal disagreements within the Taliban leadership and Haqqani’s prolonged absence from ministerial duties led to his resignation.

Sirajuddin Haqqani is the chief of the Haqqani Network, a powerful Afghan militant group that has been linked to high-profile attacks.

There have been reports of tensions between the Haqqani Network and the central Taliban leadership over women’s rights. In particular, Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Sirajuddin Haqqani appear to have differing views on these issues.

Akhundzada leads the Kandahari faction, which is known to be hardline whereas the Haqqani group is seen as relatively more pragmatic.

The Taliban government has not officially commented on Haqqani’s resignation, nor has it confirmed or denied the reports.