Taliban Higher Education Minister Warns of Internal Divisions

Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the Taliban’s Minister of Higher Education, has warned of ongoing efforts to sow discord among members of the group. Speaking at a religious school in Kabul on Tuesday, December 15, Nadeem claimed there are deliberate attempts to create divisions within the Taliban.

Without naming specific individuals or groups, Nadeem alleged that the “enemies of Islam” are seeking to undermine what he described as the “system.” He stressed the need for vigilance to prevent distrust and internal rifts within the Taliban ranks.

Nadeem added that supporting jihadi madrasas, Islamic scholars, and Taliban fighters could help contain such divisions. However, this stance has further fueled concerns over the direction of Afghanistan’s education system and the growing influence of religious institutions within it.

Previously, Rahmatullah Najib, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister of Interior, had also stated that certain factions were attempting to organize groups against the Taliban. Similarly, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada recently urged members in a speech in Kandahar to avoid internal conflicts—a sign of the persistent concerns among Taliban leadership regarding internal disunity and organizational cohesion.