Maulvi Abdul Qadir Sad, a Tajik Taliban member from Balkh, has publicly criticized the group’s leadership, accusing the Islamic Emirate of turning into a tribal and ethnic regime dominated by bigotry. In the wake of the removal of Tajik and Uzbek Taliban from northern regions, Sad contends that outsiders have been installed under religious titles, describing them as nothing more than shepherds and farmers who have been thrust into power. He claims that Tajik Taliban fighters have killed their own people to support the regime, only to be humiliated and rejected by their communities. In a blunt warning, Sad said that if Taliban rule collapses, the first to turn against them would be their own Tajiks, who would shave their beards and tighten their turbans around their own necks. He argued that unlike others, they lack the money to escape or relocate, saying, “We can’t go live with Punjabis.” He concluded by asserting that they have lost honor among their own people, highlighting deep cracks and ethnic resentment within Taliban ranks. The statements illuminate underlying ethnic fault lines within Afghanistan’s north and among the Taliban’s diverse makeup, underscoring concerns about governance, legitimacy, and unity as the group maintains control. While Sad’s comments reflect internal dissent and fear of alienation among Tajik fighters, they also raise questions about how the regime might address minority grievances, manage factional rivalries, and protect civilians in a context of shifting regional power dynamics. Analysts warn that such rhetoric could signal a precarious balance inside the militant movement, with the potential for further fragmentation if grievances are not acknowledged or adequately addressed.
Source: Statement from @AfghanTimes7
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Published: April 26, 2026, 4:18 am
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