Taliban Military Commission Leads Afghan Forces Regrouping

The various organs of the Taliban controlling the country’s security forces have been placed under the Military/Security Affairs Commission, which is dominated by supporters of Mullah Yaqoob, the acting defence minister and Sirajuddin Haqqani the acting interior minister.

Military Affairs Commission oversees the chain of command down to the provincial and district levels.

While Mullah Akhundzada is the Taliban’s “ultimate authority” the deputies handle issues at the working level.

Taliban’s Military Affairs Commission all powerful as it is responsible for appointing and overseeing all of the provincial and district governors.

Never the less the limitations of these groups are clear given that the overall chain of command lies with Mullah Akhundzada even though it appears that Mullah Yaqoob and Sirajuddin Haqqani have considerable freedom of operations.

Recently the military reforms commission headed by the Defence Ministry Chief Auditor Mufti Latifullah Hakimi declared security forces ranks as clear and transparent and said 4,350 unwanted persons and 150 below the age individuals had been expelled as per the Pajhwok Afghan News.

Hakimi, led a commission comprised of officials from Interior Ministry, General Directorate of Intelligence, and Defence Ministry

Hakimi said: “The Commission concluded its activities and the Islamic Emirate ranks were clear now and the rest of responsibilities are handed over to the security affairs commission.” He said Security Affairs Commission will monitor the work of Reform Commission and will coordinate between security institutions.

Taliban Army Profile

Attending graduation of 500 army force members in Herat province, Islamic Emirate Chief of Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat said that Afghanistan has at least 80,000 army members grouped in eight corps across the country.

The chief of staff further said that the government will attempt to build an army of 150,000 members. “Everyone who is a volunteer will be recruited in the army and we will recruit professional people as well,” said Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat. Interior Ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in a statement on, January 8, 2022, said that a battalion of 200 Special Forces graduated after completing the three-month course in Kabul. The statement reads that the Forces are equipped with Night Vision scopes and Laser mounted weapons and are given rigorous physical, mental and ideological training.

Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that they will create a special battalion of suicide attackers to be part of their future army. Deputy Minister of information and culture and spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid said that the battalion will be part of their special forces and will be active under Defense Ministry. Zabiullah Mujahid said that the battalion will be used during special operations.