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Conflict develops between Taliban leaders in Presidential Palace over govt's make-up: Reports

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 15 Sep 2021

Conflict develops between Taliban leaders in Presidential Palace over govt's make-up: Reports

Image: UNI/Xinhua

Kabul: A conflict seems to have developed in the Taliban leadership over the make-up of the group's new government in Afghanistan, media reports said.

An argument between the group's co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and a cabinet member occurred at the presidential palace, senior Taliban officials told the BBC.   

There have been unconfirmed reports of disagreements within the Taliban's leadership since Baradar disappeared from public view in recent days, the British media reported.

However, the group has officially denied the matter.

The Taliban captured power in Afghanistan last month after forcefully entering Kabul city on Aug 15.

One Taliban source told BBC Pashto that Mr Baradar and Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani - the minister for refugees and a prominent figure within the militant Haqqani network - had exchanged strong words, as their followers brawled with each other nearby.

A senior Taliban member based in Qatar and a person connected to those involved also confirmed that an argument had taken place late last week.

The sources said the argument had broken out because Mr Baradar, the new deputy prime minister, was unhappy about the structure of their interim government.