A major confrontation broke out between leaders of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, senior Taliban officials told the BBC.
During the meeting at the Presidential Palace Taliban co-founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani - the minister for refugees and a prominent figure within the militant Haqqani network, had exchanged strong words. The argument started because Baradar, the new deputy prime minister, was not happy about the structure of their interim government. According to other reports, the main reason for the argument is the disagreement over who should take credit for Taliban victory in Afghanistan.
According to that source, Baradar believes that the Taliban came to power thanks to negotiations and people involved in diplomacy, i.e., through people like him. The members of Haqqani network who are led by high-ranked Taliban figures, have no doubt that everything was achieved through their military successes.
“Haqqani network” is linked to the most violent attacks of the recent years that occurred in Afghanistan against Afghan military forces and their Western allies. The US and Russia consider this group a terrorist organization. “Haqqani network” leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani is appointed an interior minister of the new government.
Rumors about contradictions started last week, after one of the best-known faces of the Taliban, Baradar suddenly disappeared from public view. There were speculations on social media that he might have died. The Taliban keep insisting that there was no argument, and that Baradar left for Kandahar to meet the Taliban supreme leader, although they later reported that he was "just tired and needed some rest".
