Is There Internal Dissent in the Taliban Movement and Does it Matter?

We address the Islamic Emirate’s internal politics, considering the factional tussles and differences over ideology and tactics within the movement. What do these differences in perspective between the Taliban factions tell us about the prospects for a change in the Emirate’s hard-line policies?

There are multiple axes along which Taliban are divided – ethnicity, region, affiliation with informal networks, ideological perspective, and jihadi credentials. Much Taliban discourse currently focuses on differences over ideological perspective. It addresses the question of whether the Emirate should be prepared to compromise on its hard-line policies, in particular the restrictions on women, in response to Afghan popular sentiment and to mend fences with the international community. But does the movement’s doctrine of obedience to the Amir just make internal politics irrelevant? If all pragmatists ultimately bow to the Amir and implement his policies, maybe the fact that some Taliban do not like these policies is inconsequential.

Podcast produced by Colm Heatley.