Taliban Leaders Hebatullah Akhundzada and Sirajuddin Haqqani Visit Helmand, Meet Residents

Local sources in Helmand province report that Hebatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban administration, along with Sirajuddin Haqqani, acting Interior Minister, have traveled to the province for the first time. According to sources, the two Taliban officials met with residents in the Kajaki and Gereshk districts during their visit.

Based on information from the sources, residents raised serious economic concerns during their meetings with Taliban officials. Persistent drought, declining agricultural yields, and rising unemployment were among the primary issues people urged to be addressed urgently.

Helmand is considered one of Afghanistan’s agriculturally focused provinces, and consecutive droughts in recent years have placed extensive pressure on household livelihoods. Nevertheless, residents say no practical or tangible measures have yet been taken to alleviate these pressures, with promises largely remaining verbal.

Simultaneously, sources confirmed that Hebatullah Akhundzada laid the foundation stone for a mosque in Kajaki district and instructed local officials to take action to resolve the people’s problems. However, the Taliban administration has so far not released any official information about the details of this trip, specific economic plans, or the outcomes of the meetings; a matter which once again raises questions about the administration’s transparency and accountability.