Taliban Interior Minister and Haqqani network leader Sirajuddin Haqqani has publicly stated that a former member of the group’s first suicide training centre has asked him for a general’s rank.
Haqqani made the remarks during a meeting with members of the Taliban’s suicide units and their families in Gylaan district of Ghazni province. He identified Hayatullah Mohammad Ghaznavi as one of the early members of the Taliban’s suicide training centre and said that Ghaznavi now wants to receive the rank of general.
The remarks offer a rare glimpse into changing expectations among members of the Taliban’s former suicide units. These fighters were trained during the war against the previous Afghan government and foreign forces, with many prepared to carry out suicide attacks.
According to Haqqani, however, some former members now expect their wartime backgrounds to give them greater access to government positions and resources. He urged members of the suicide units not to become “arrogant” because of their past.
Haqqani recalled the establishment of the Taliban’s first “shahid” centre and praised the role of suicide attackers in the group’s previous war. At the same time, he expressed frustration over Ghaznavi’s demand for a generalship and also mentioned another former member, Abdul Manan.
The comments highlight the challenges facing the Taliban as it attempts to manage former fighters and distribute government positions following its return to power.