Who is Abdul Kabir?
Born in 1963, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir is a native of Paktia, reportedly raised in Baghlan province. His roots in the influential Zadran tribe of eastern Afghanistan, along with his popular support in Baghlan, have contributed to his considerable power.
According to the Independent Persian, Abdul Kabir served as Governor of Nangarhar, head of the eastern provinces (Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, and Nuristan), and Deputy of the Council of Ministers during the first era of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan (1996 – 2001), and led the Peshawar Shura (Taliban’s leadership council of eastern Afghanistan) after 2001, which was subsequently joined by the Haqqani Network. He was a member of the Taliban negotiating team in Doha between 2019 and 2020.
Context: The Supreme Leader’s attempts to decrease Haqqani influence
Backed by the Haqqani Network, Abdul Kabir was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs in October 2021 amid the post-takeover distribution of power between the Haqqani and Kandahari Taliban factions. According to Etilaat-e-Roz, his control of the Sapidar Palace within the Arg presidential compound symbolised the Haqqani’s share of power at the heart of the new Taliban administration.
His demotion to ministerial status sparked widespread speculation about internal Taliban internal power dynamics. According to 8am Media and the Independent Persian, some believe that the Supreme Leader was threatened by Abdul Kabir’s growth in popularity, sought to curb the Haqqani influence in governments, or wanted to punish him for challenging the official stance on girls’ education.
The UK-based Afghanistan International correspondent, Seyamak Heravi quoted internal sources claiming that Abdul Kabir, in a meeting with the Taliban Supreme Leader in December 2024, had proposed creating an Islamic council that would lead and oversee all national issues, reportedly demanding the reopening of girls’ schools.
Abdul Kabir’s demotion is likely also in line with the Supreme Leader’s larger efforts to sideline dissident Kabul-based Taliban, while accumulating power and authority around himself. Seyamak Heravi claimed that Abdul Kabir had grown considerable power inside the Taliban’s presidential palace, parallel to Prime Minister Hasan Akhund. With Kabir’s demotion, the Haqqanis have now lost direct access to the Arg.
Context: Growing dissent over girls’ access to education
Abdul Kabir is not alone in allegedly voicing opposition within the Taliban against the hardline approach to girls’ education. Following the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants on 23 January 2025. Taliban members were increasingly vocal in demanding the reopening of schools, including those who had not previously voiced disagreement.
This included senior Taliban leaders. A video surfaced on social media on 31 January 2025 showing Mawlawi Mohammad Nabi Omari, Deputy Minister of Interior and former Guantanamo Bay detainee linked to the Haqqani Network, emotionally weeping during a speech at a female madrassa in Khost, Jamia-e Ayesha-e Sidiqa.
In his speech, delivered on 27 January, he emphasised the importance of girls’ education, calling it “mubah” (permissible) under Sharia law, while urging the Taliban to “reopen modern education”.
Several pro-Taliban accounts shared the footage on X (formerly Twitter). The footage came in the wake of Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai’s open support for female education earlier in the month, which reportedly led to a rift with the Supreme Leader (see separate report below).
Both Taliban and pro-Taliban commentators have also been observed advocating on social media for the reopening of girls’ schools. Additionally, non-Taliban community members, including Islamic scholars, voiced their support for women.
According to Afghanistan International, former Taliban ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef has reportedly called on the Supreme Leader to convene a scholar’s assembly to discuss girls’ education.
Former Hazara member of Parliament Jafar Madavi, speaking at a graduation ceremony in Kabul on 2 February 2025, expressed his hopes for the reopening of girls’ schools.
At least three scholars, including Mahmood Hassan, Mawlawi Abdul Azizi Shuja, and Mawlavi Abdul Qader Qanet, have spoken out against the alleged monopolisation of power by the Supreme Leader, and in defence of women’s right to education.
Mawlawi Abdul Aziz Shuja, a scholar and Imam of Moi Mubarak Mosque in Kabul, called on the Taliban to stop discriminating against women on 27 January 2025, stating that both women and men were encouraged by the Quran to seek knowledge. The Taliban arrested the three scholars on 29 and 30 January 2025, likely in response to their comments, with media sources claiming they were tortured in detention.
On social media, several well-known pro-Taliban influencers have openly posted in support of Afghan women and girls. Armani Ashna, with over 30,000 followers on X, shared photos of Taliban leaders, including education officials, claiming that they had been appointed through nepotism and should be replaced.
