Afghanistan On Brink Of Collapse As Major Fight Breaks Out Between Top Taliban Leaders

Exactly a month ago, the Taliban captured Kabul, completing the final takeover of Afghanistan in a matter of days. Though the group was fighting for years, the final sweep of city after city by the Taliban was accomplished in just seven days.

Following which, the Taliban announced its interim government in Afghanistan. But, a major row was now been reported between its top leaders at the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

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Brawl between two rival factions of Taliban

Supporters of the two rival factions in the Taliban got into an altercation at the Presidential Palace, the BBC reported. However, the Taliban have denied such reports. The dispute within the group came to light after Taliban co-founder and deputy prime minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar disappeared for days.

Sources told BBC Pashto that Baradar and Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani - a minister in the new cabinet and top leader of the Haqqani network, indulged in a heated exchange of words after the fight between their followers.

The Art Newspaper

It has been reported that the fight stemmed from division over who should take credit for the victory in Afghanistan. While Baradar believes it is because of diplomacy that people like him, Haqqani is of the view that the victory was achieved through fighting.

'Rumours' that Baradar of the new cabinet, died

Soon after the fallout, it speculated that Baradar has died, but Taliban sources refuted the claim. Baradar released an audio statement on Monday saying he was alive and well after news of his supposed demise went viral on social media.

"There had been news in the media about my death. Over the past few nights, I have been away on trips. Wherever I am at the moment, we are all fine, all my brothers and friends," Baradar said in the clip.

AMP

"Media always publish fake propaganda. Therefore, bravely reject all those rumours, lies, and I 100 percent confirm to you there is no issue and we have no problem."

Cash crunch in Taliban regime

Meanwhile, Afghanistan has been facing cash crunch, with global aids freezing and daily limits set on withdrawal from bank accounts. Now, a report in New York Post has claimed that most of the Taliban fighters have not received money in months.

Most of the countries have refused to recognise the Taliban regime, which officially calls the country Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. And so, cash is barely trickling in. In such a scenario, Afghanistan's econpmy has been crumbling and prices soaring.

AFP

The United Nations cautioned this week that 97 per cent of Afghanistan's population could soon go below the poverty line - a worrying level from the pre-Taliban takeover figure of 72 per cent.