Infighting between two factions in the Taliban leadership has intensified since the group formed the Cabinet in early September. Top leader Abdul Ghani Baradar was reported to have been injured during a violent confrontation between the factions at the presidential palace.
The reason for the infighting is said to be the credit for victory over Kabul and the mode of governance to be adopted by Taliban. While one faction favors ruthless Islamic rule as per Shariah, the other faction under Baradar is said to have opted for a flexible reign.
Soon after the Kabul takeover, Baradar addressed the press and spoke about the possibility of an inclusive government. But the hard-line faction is having an upper hand as witnessed in the cabinet formation and hosting of Taliban flags over the Presidential palace.
Rift between Baradar and Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani, prominent leader of the Haqqani militant Network, is also a prime reason for the infighting. Baradar and his faction believes that people like him who wielded their diplomatic power should be given credit for victory over Kabul.
Meanwhile, members of the Haqqani group and their followers say the victory in Afghanistan was possible due to fighting. Baradar, who was a prominent figure during the negotiations with the US, has been kept away from key meetings after the Taliban came to power.
He was not present during a meeting with the deputy prime minister of Qatar which was the highest-level foreign visit since the Taliban takeover. The infighting will affect the way Taliban rules Afghanistan with each faction trying to get an upperhand in every decision.
With doubts persisting over Taliban’s ability to control the entire country, infighting will only decrease its hold over various regions
Dr. Niranjan B Poojar 
Bhagyashree Gupta 
Balaji Subramanian