Senior Taliban Official Urges Authorities to Avoid Alienating People from Religion through Misconduct

Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Taliban administration, emphasized during a graduation ceremony for seminary students in Khost province that government officials should not behave in a way that discourages people from Islam and religion.

Speaking at the event held on May 5, he described the current administration as the ‘administration of religious scholars’ and stressed that officials must show humility in their interactions with the public and consider themselves servants of the community rather than above it.

Anas Haqqani highlighted the role of religious scholars, stating that humility combined with knowledge is a fundamental principle. He cautioned against using religious status to look down on other Muslims or to foster hatred. According to him, if scholars embody these qualities, they can earn the trust and hearts of the people.

He also added that religious outreach activities should be conducted with sensitivity to social contexts, a responsibility he believes is more important than many policies. Haqqani described the pulpit as the primary tool for conveying messages to both the general public and specific groups, emphasizing the need to address the needs and deficiencies of every village and community.

This Taliban official also noted that Afghanistan has become self-sufficient in the number of religious schools, but improving the quality of religious education is the responsibility of scholars to cultivate individuals capable of playing constructive roles in society.

At the same event, Haji Mali Khan Sadiq, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Taliban Ministry of Defense, urged religious scholars to honestly communicate the real problems faced by the people to senior officials and to make them aware of shortcomings and mistakes. He said scholars should not hesitate to present criticisms, even directly to him.

These remarks come amid recurring criticisms highlighting a growing gap between the Taliban administration’s claims and the everyday experiences of residents, especially regarding the behavior of local officials and social restrictions—issues that could further undermine public trust.