Taliban Interior Minister Shares Unprecedented Insights on Governance

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Interior, made rare and bold statements in Khost Province, acknowledging that the rulers in Kabul have resorted to violence, humiliation, and fear to maintain their governance. He stressed that a government that rules through fear and force is not a true government, calling for an end to this approach and for fostering love and trust between the authorities and the people.

Sirajuddin Haqqani: A Government That Rules Through Fear and Force Is Not a True Government

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Interior Minister of the Taliban, gave controversial and unprecedented remarks about governance in Kabul yesterday in Khost Province, openly addressing the current rulers’ approach.

Explicit Critique of Governance

Haqqani emphasized that the fundamental principles of a good government should be based on a positive relationship with the people: A government that manages its people solely through intimidation is not a government. There should be a bond of love and trust between the governed and the government.

Call to End Violence and Humiliation

The Taliban Interior Minister, comparing the current situation to the past, called for an immediate halt to ongoing practices: We had once suffered at the hands of world empires, yet now we lack the patience and are condemning and humiliating our own people. This must stop. He also identified that establishing stability and legitimacy depends on changing the approach towards the people: We must treat our people in a way that eliminates enmity and hostility. Haqqani’s repeated insistence that a government ruling through fear and coercion is not a legitimate government suggests possible internal pressures or perhaps an effort to initiate changes in the power structure and governance of the Taliban.