Afghan-based sources have reported that Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, has left Afghanistan under contentious circumstances. This development follows an alleged arrest warrant and exit ban issued by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. While the Taliban has not officially commented, discussions on the matter are widespread in Kabul.
According to the reports, Defence Minister Yaqoob Mujahid facilitated Stanekzai’s immediate departure to Dubai. Sources claim this action was prompted by Stanekzai’s harsh criticism of Hibatullah Akhundzada’s decision to ban girls’ education. Following these remarks, Akhundzada reportedly instructed Abdul Haq Wasiq, head of Taliban intelligence, to arrest Stanekzai and prevent him from leaving the country.
After receiving the directive, Wasiq reached out to Defence Minister Yaqoob Mujahid, who is considered one of Stanekzai’s main allies within the Taliban hierarchy. It was Mujahid who advised Stanekzai to leave Afghanistan promptly, avoiding potential arrest.
A source close to Abbas Stanekzai, however, denied any dispute between him and Hibatullah Akhundzada. In an interview with an Afghan TV channel, the source claimed Stanekzai was planning to release a video statement but was unable to do so due to illness. The source also mentioned that Stanekzai had requested Deputy Spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the issue publicly.
On January 18, during a graduation ceremony at a religious school in Khost Province, Stanekzai openly criticized the Taliban’s policies. He accused the Taliban of “acting against Sharia” and depriving 20 million Afghan women of their rights. He argued that the ban on girls’ education and university attendance had no basis in religion, calling it solely Hibatullah Akhundzada’s personal opinion.
Stanekzai’s remarks sparked significant international attention. Reuters described his comments as one of the most severe public criticisms of the Taliban’s policies, which have led to their global isolation. Similarly, CNN called his speech a “rare public criticism” of Hibatullah Akhundzada’s policies. Analysts told CNN that Stanekzai had escalated his criticisms by directly addressing the Taliban leader and challenging his legitimacy.
The Economist Times highlighted that this marked a significant departure from Stanekzai’s previous criticisms, noting that he explicitly called on Akhundzada to change his policies. His remarks have drawn global attention to the plight of Afghan women and the internal divisions within the Taliban leadership.
