NEW DELHI: Taliban-appointed interior minister of Afghanistan Sirajuddin Haqqani's recent public criticism directed at the militant group's supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada has sparked speculation of a deepening division within the Taliban leadership.Without naming Akhundzada, Haqqani lashed out at the group's top brass for “monopolising” power and "damaging the government in Afghanistan".“Our views and thoughts are dominating us to such an extent that power monopolisation and defamation of the entire [ruling] system have become common place,” Haqqani said at a religious gathering in southeastern Khost region.

“This situation can no more be tolerated,” said the influential Taliban leader.

The minister said the Taliban administration should desist from adopting policies that would drive a wedge between “the [ruling] system and the people, allowing others to exploit it to defame Islam”.

Differences over curtailing women's rightsAnalysts said that a major reason for the internal rift is the regime's continued crackdown on women's rights, which has made it hard for the Taliban administration to gain acceptance among its own populace and has further isolated the country from the international community.Akhundzada, a notoriously reclusive leader, has ordered the banning of Afghan women from most workplaces and all education since his hardline group seized power in August 2021.

Akhundzada rules from the southern city of Kandahar and issues edicts via a religious council of clerics.The Taliban have so far prohibited women from attending universities, working in non-governmental organisations, using gyms, and going to amusement parks or public baths.

They are also prohibited from travelling more than 70 km without a male escort.

The moves have sparked outrage among Afghans and the international community, with even some friendly Islamic countries expressing opposition.Haqqani and the country’s defence minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, are among some of the Taliban’s top leaders – deemed to be moderate – who want greater rights for women to help their isolated government build ties with the world, according to foreign diplomats who have interacted with them.“Now that we are in power, it is our responsibility to heal the wounds of our people and bring them relief ...

The survival of the government depends on how we treat the people.

The previous government was corrupt and did not survive as it repressed the people.

If we treat the people well, our government will last longer," Haqqani said in his speech.Swift reprimandA day after Haqqani's criticism, chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid pushed back without naming the powerful minister.“Our Islamic ethics bind us to not publicly criticise or vilify the emir, minister or a government official ...

You must approach him and convey your criticism privately and safely, so no one else will hear it," Mujahid said in a speech aired by Taliban-run official television.The deputy Taliban minister of justice, Abdul Ghani Faiq, also cautioned officials against undermining the ruling dispensation.

“If anyone moves against the Islamic Emirate [official title for the Taliban government], this is not tolerable".Two rival factions within the TalibanTaliban leaders have long dismissed reports of any internal rifts as Western propaganda.

Hamza Momain Hakimi, a political science lecturer at the Salam University in Kabul, however says the Taliban are divided into two factions.One faction represents a minority but comprises powerful members who hold important positions in Afghanistan and are “imposing their own narrow narrative from Islam”.The other faction represents a vast majority, which refuses the minority opinion on many issues, including women’s role in Afghan society and policies related to their work and education.

“Such a statement from powerful people like Sirajuddin Haqqani shows clearly that there are factions within the Taliban,” said Hakimi, according to a report by Arab News.

“There is a majority and there is a minority, but unfortunately, that minority is more powerful than the majority.”Mohibullah Sharif, an Afghan political expert based in Kabul, said Haqqani had expressed the concerns of the Afghan people.

“There is no doubt that there is a clear difference in the Islamic and political view of the leaders of the Taliban regime."Powder kegExpert fear that the widening differences between the factions may end up triggering a serious conflict in the country and even a civil war.

Most of the top Taliban leaders are warlords in their own right and command the loyalty of thousands of armed supporters.

The interior minister is on the US list of most wanted men for plotting terrorism against American nationals.

His so-called Haqqani network of militants staged high-profile deadly attacks in support of the Taliban insurgence against the United States and Nato troops in Afghanistan for almost 20 years until the Taliban retook control of the country 18 months ago.Yaqoob is the son of the group’s deceased founder Mullah Mohammad Omar.Due to their positions in the Taliban administration, Yaqoob and Haqqani also have access to billions of dollars worth of military equipment left behind by the US military.

Akhundzada’s loyalists are mostly drawn from local armed militias in Kandahar and like-minded religious leaders who have thousands of fighters of their own.“The Afghan people want these differences between the leading personalities to end easily and safely because the problems between them will lead to a serious conflict in the country and Afghanistan will return to the civil war that occurred in the 90s,” Sharif said.(With inputs from agencies)