Clashes between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East have revealed the hidden connection and dependence of Mullah Haibatullah and his Taliban group on the West.
Author: Andrey Serenko, head of the Analytical Center of the Russia Society of Political Scientists
For almost ten days now, the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas has been raging in the Gaza Strip. Almost all major Islamic political and religious leaders, including the leaders of mainstream jihadist movements and groups, have spoken out regarding these tragic events.
However, the leader of the Taliban, Mavlavi Haibatullah Akhund, is still silent.
Yes, there was a statement from the Taliban Foreign Ministry, which Mullah Muttaqi heads, there were informal statements by individual authoritative Taliban, and actions against Israel took place in various Afghan cities, organized by local Muslim activists, including the Taliban.
But there is still no personal reaction (position) of the leader of the leading jihadist organization in the world, which controls the entire country - Afghanistan.
And this is very strange.
Yes, Mavlavi Haibatullah is not one of the most public representatives of the jihadist world. However, he is not a complete hermit. In any case, the Taliban emir allows himself to periodically speak out on issues that are important, in his opinion. For example, regarding the participation of the Afghan Taliban in the Pakistani Taliban's jihad against the Pakistani army.
Of course, the topic of jihad in Pakistan is very important for Islamic public opinion, primarily regional. However, the theme of the struggle of Palestinians against Israel and Israel against Palestinians is definitely no less significant.
However, Mavlavi Haibatullah stubbornly remains silent about the events in the Gaza Strip and the next war involving Israel. Why?
Perhaps the Pakistani and the Western curators of the Taliban, who retain influence on Mavlavi Haibatullah, are thus trying to help Israel avoid additional risks of globalizing the conflict in Gaza.
After all, if the Taliban leader personally speaks out on the topic of the October conflict, it will be difficult for him to limit himself to only “religious expert” assessments: he will have to draw conclusions. And this could provoke a wave of people who want to go to jihad in Palestine among the Taliban and their allies.
