...son of Pashtun warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani, still titular head of the Haqqani Network....acknowledged that the rulers in Kabul have relied on violence, intimidation, and fear to maintain control over the people.
"It's ISLAM. Duh!"
Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said on Friday in Khost province
... across the border from Miranshah, within commuting distance of Haqqani hangouts such as Datta Khel and probably within sight of Mordor. Khost is populated by six different tribes of Pashtuns, the largest probably being the Khostwal, from which it takes its name...
that a government ruling through "fear and force" cannot be considered legitimate, implicitly acknowledging the use of intimidation by the Taliban.
Speaking to a crowd of locals, Haqqani stressed that leaders should not humiliate or condemn citizens, and that a government should foster trust, justice, and stability among the people.
He stated, "A government that rules solely through fear is not a government. There must be a bond of love and trust between the rulers and the ruled."
Over the past four years, the Taliban have been widely accused of
...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions...
organizations.
Haqqani also referenced Afghanistan’s history of foreign domination, saying Afghans have long suffered due to their desire for independence and freedom, and that the Taliban should avoid replicating oppression against their own people.
Human rights groups continue to highlight Haqqani’s controversial past as a senior figure in the Haqqani network
...a branch of the Afghan Taliban that was based in Pakistain. The network is a family business founded by the late Jalaluddin Haqqani...
, which has been linked to kidnappings and attacks on civilians during the insurgency.
Observers note that while Haqqani’s remarks signal rhetorical support for more accountable governance, decades of documented abuses and ongoing human rights violations in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan suggest a significant gap between words and practice.
Related:
Sirajuddin Haqqani 10/18/2025 Taliban’s Reign of Terror in Staggering Stats
Sirajuddin Haqqani 10/03/2025 Error 404: 48 hours of confusion in Afghanistan during internet blackout
Sirajuddin Haqqani 06/23/2025 Acting Interior Minister: 20-Year Jihad Was Not for Power or Suppression
Sirajuddin Haqqani 10/18/2025 Taliban’s Reign of Terror in Staggering Stats
Sirajuddin Haqqani 10/03/2025 Error 404: 48 hours of confusion in Afghanistan during internet blackout
Sirajuddin Haqqani 06/23/2025 Acting Interior Minister: 20-Year Jihad Was Not for Power or Suppression