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, 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 Kandahar in January 2025, fueled rumors of differences at the very top of the Taliban. This internal rift was denied by the Taliban leadership, but it prompted the BBC's Afghan service to investigate, resulting in insights into two distinct factions within the group.
One faction is loyal to Akhundzada, advocating for a strict Islamic Emirate, isolated from the modern world, while the other, based in Kabul, seeks engagement with the outside, promotes economic development, and allows girls access to education. The struggle between these competing visions escalated notably in late September 2025, when Akhundzada ordered a nationwide internet shutdown. Three days later, the Kabul faction defied this order and restored internet access, marking a striking act of rebellion.
Despite Akhundzada's perceived absolute power, this incident highlights a significant shift within Taliban governance dynamics and raises crucial questions about women’s rights and governance in the future of Afghanistan.
