Kandahar (Kubha News) – Taliban leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada, during his Eid al-Fitr sermon amid heightened security, called on his government members to recognize the shift from physical combat to propaganda warfare and urged them to combat it.
Addressing worshippers gathered at the central Eidgah in Kandahar, Maulvi Hebatullah underscored the need for the Taliban to withstand the onslaught of propaganda while advocating for a return to the tactics of the past, including suicide attacks. He emphasized, “The enemy is trying to introduce Islam and this system to the people as flawed and crooked, and the leaders will consider it as flawed, that they are not capable of governing, and this the system of Mullah, Taliban and a group.”
Despite the predominance of Taliban members holding key government roles and the notable absence of many educated and professional individuals from active participation, the Taliban leader assured worshippers gathered at the Eidgah that they are integral partners in the system, emphasizing the equivalence between the Taliban and the populace, urging support for the Taliban-led government.
While Hebatullah expressed a willingness to engage with the international community within the bounds of Islamic principles to address issues, he staunchly defended the implementation of Sharia law, dismissing criticism from global human rights organizations and the United Nations.
In the last two years, several former political leaders residing in Kabul and the provinces under Taliban rule have been barred from engaging in political activities, attending conferences, or traveling abroad, with reports indicating the incarceration of former soldiers in Taliban prisons; however, addressing the matter of general amnesty, Maulvi Hebatullah asserted that they have forgiven all former officials, and if the Taliban were human rights violators and terrorists, they could have tried and executed all their opponents.
In a bid to foster economic growth, Hebatullah announced the establishment of a new directorate of factories to bolster Afghanistan’s self-sufficiency.
The Eid al-Fitr sermon took place amidst heightened security measures in and around the central Eidgah and Kandahar city, reflecting the ongoing tensions and concerns surrounding potential attacks.