A Clash Within: The Taliban's Internal Struggle and the Internet Shutdown

Fri Jan 16 2026 11:56:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Explore the escalating tensions within the Taliban leadership as competing factions clash over governance priorities and the controversial internet shutdown that sparked rebellion among Taliban ministers.

Recent revelations expose deep-seated rifts within the Taliban leadership, highlighted by an internet shutdown order from supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. A faction based in Kabul defied this command, leading to a temporary reinstatement of services and raising questions about the future of governance in Afghanistan. Sources cite concerns over growing authoritarianism under Akhundzada versus the expansive vision of a more engaging Taliban led by Kabul-based figures. Insights from insiders provide a glimpse into the emerging power dynamics and the potential impact on women's rights.

It was a piece of audio obtained by the BBC that revealed what worries the Taliban's leader most.

Not an external danger, but one from within Afghanistan, which the Taliban seized control of as the previous government collapsed and the US withdrew in 2021.

He warned of insiders in the government pitted against each other in the Islamic Emirate the Taliban set up to govern the country.

In the leaked clip, the supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada can be heard giving a speech saying that internal disagreements could eventually bring them all down.

As a result of these divisions, the emirate will collapse and end, he warned.

Now, for the first time, we have been able to map two distinct groups at the very top of the Taliban - each presenting competing visions for Afghanistan.

One entirely loyal to Akhundzada, who, from his base in Kandahar, is driving the country towards his vision of a strict Islamic Emirate - isolated from the modern world, where religious figures loyal to him control every aspect of society.

And a second, made up of powerful Taliban members largely based in the capital Kabul, advocating for an Afghanistan which - while still following a strict interpretation of Islam - engages with the outside, builds the country's economy, and even allows girls and women access to an education they are currently denied beyond primary school.

On September 29, 2025, Akhundzada ordered the internet and phones to be shut off, severing Afghanistan from the rest of the world. In a surprising turn of events, three days later, the internet was restored by the Kabul group despite Akhundzada's explicit orders.

This defiance signifies an unprecedented moment in the Taliban's history, drawing attention to the ongoing tug-of-war between two visions for Afghanistan's future. As divisions deepen, the question remains whether the Kabul group's push for modernization and reform will result in meaningful changes for Afghan women and society at large.