Khost Governor Visits Border Areas amid Taliban Emphasis on National Sovereignty

Maulvi Abdullah Mukhtar, the Taliban-appointed governor of Khost province, recently visited parts of the border regions in Alisher and Tere Zayi districts.

According to an official statement from the Taliban administration in Khost, during his visit Mukhtar told local officials and stationed forces that defending the people and the country is a “sacred duty.” He urged them to carry out their responsibilities with “honesty, firm resolve, and full vigilance.”

The Khost governor described border security as one of the “fundamental pillars of national sovereignty” — a term frequently used in the Taliban’s official rhetoric, though it often faces practical challenges such as lack of transparent oversight, poor management, and instrumental use of nationalistic language.

In response, Taliban personnel stationed in these areas affirmed their readiness to defend the people and the nation under any circumstances, pledging not to neglect “national sovereignty” and public security.

These remarks come as the Taliban administration continues to face criticism from citizens, particularly in border provinces, over persistent instability, weak public services, and a restricted civil sphere since the group’s return to power.