Sheikh Hibatullah Akhunzada, the supreme leader of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, has labeled cross-border attacks, including those on Pakistan, as forbidden under Islam.
In a Fatwa issued by Afghan Supreme Leader on jihad outside Afghanistan, it has been stated that no Afghan citizen will cross the border of Afghanistan for jihad and militancy and jihad in Pakistan is prohibited and ‘haram.’.
Mullah Hibatullah Akhunzada said that those who went to Pakistan for militancy and were killed, their deaths would not be declared as martyrdom, and those who violate these orders would no longer be considered part of the interim government of Afghanistan.
The Afghani leader said that after the killing of any Afghan citizen in Pakistan, no representative of the interim Afghan government would attend his funeral.
Similarly, on August 5, 2023, Defence Minister Mullah Yaqub visited the Ministry of Defence, during the visit he gave clear orders to ensure that Afghans would not participate in any war outside Afghanistan.
Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob directed that the orders of the Afghan Supreme Leader Sheikh Hebatullah Akhunzada be obeyed and the participation of Afghan civilians and Mujahideen outside Afghanistan would be considered a war, and not Jihad.
Mullah Yaqub advised all Mujahideen to contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan instead of fighting elsewhere, working for the welfare and reconstruction of Afghanistan was the real Jihad for the Mujahideen of the interim Afghan government.
The order of Mullah Akhundzadeh has been conveyed to various Taliban officials and individuals, including Mullah Yaqoob, the Taliban’s Minister of Defence.
The official Afghan television station aired audio of a speech Saturday by Taliban Defence Minister Muhammad Yaqoob, in which he revealed for the first time a few details about Hibatullah’s order regarding cross-border violence.
Hebatullah had announced the termination of the so-called jihad after his hardline group reclaimed power in August 2021 when all international forces departed the country.
