Taliban Interior Minister Praise Mullah Omar as Founder of Islamic System in Afghanistan

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s acting Interior Minister, praised Mullah Mohammad Omar during a meeting in Zabul province, describing him as the “founder of the Islamic system” and the key figure in preserving Afghanistan’s territorial integrity. Haqqani stated that with “pure and steadfast will,” Mullah Omar ended internal conflicts and eliminated destructive goals. He claimed that the foundation of the military system currently governing the country was established during Omar’s era. According to the Taliban Interior Minister, what is now referred to as national unity following the end of the two-decade occupation is the result of that very structure, and Afghanistan today possesses a “united” Islamic system. These remarks come amid criticism that the Taliban’s official narrative of recent history overlooks differing perspectives and the sufferings of large sections of the population—especially as widespread restrictions on civil, political, and social rights, particularly those of women, raise serious questions about the meaning of unity and national inclusion.