The Afghan Taliban have arrested one of their own social media activists, Rahimullah Sikandar, for publicly criticising a senior Taliban official who declared the so-called “jihad” in Pakistan as illegitimate.
According to Taliban sources, Sikandar was detained after he rejected and denounced the statement made by Saeedullah Saeed, the head of the Kabul Police Command’s Reform Commission. Saeed had echoed the stance of the Taliban Supreme Leader, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, who had previously stated that fighting outside Afghanistan, specifically in Pakistan, does not constitute jihad.
Sikandar had posted on social media that Saeed’s statement was merely an interpretation of Akhundzada’s order, implying that his criticism of Saeed was effectively a challenge to the authority of the Taliban leader himself. As a result, he was taken into custody and has reportedly been in jail for the past two days.
Sources suggest that Sikandar may soon be released if he issues an apology, updates his Facebook post, and provides a formal assurance.
Meanwhile, Pakistani journalists and analysts point out that this arrest reflects a new alignment in regional counter-terrorism cooperation. They argue that individuals deemed problematic by Islamabad can now be apprehended, regardless of their status or location, as bilateral security understandings evolve.
