Taliban leadership feared depleting weapons stock during clashes with Pakistan: Afghan media

Afghan media revealed that during recent border clashes with Pakistan, the Taliban leadership grew increasingly concerned that their weapons stockpile might soon be exhausted.

According to an analytical report by Afghanistan International, deep divisions emerged within the Taliban leadership over how to handle the escalating conflict with Pakistan.

Sources said Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and his close aides feared that if the fighting continued, their heavy weapons reserves would be depleted. For this reason, when Qatar and Türkiye offered mediation, the Taliban leadership reportedly saw it as a timely opportunity to halt the confrontation.

Following Pakistan’s airstrikes, Akhundzada summoned religious scholars to Kandahar for consultations and eventually authorized the Ministry of Defense to decide independently whether or not to retaliate.

Subsequently, Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and other Taliban leaders held a meeting in Kabul and approved retaliatory attacks, in which dozens of Pakistani personnel were allegedly killed.

Reports indicate that Yaqoob Mujahid and Qayyum Zakir directly oversaw the operations, while the Taliban leader remained in the background and did not chair any security meetings.

Later, through Qatar and Türkiye’s intervention, both sides initiated ceasefire talks, and a Taliban delegation was dispatched to Doha for discussions.

Sources noted that two contrasting opinions emerged within the Taliban: one faction favored negotiations, while the other pushed for a stronger military response against Pakistan.

Akhundzada himself supported limited defensive action. Analysts suggest that the Taliban government now seeks to avoid direct confrontation with Pakistan and is inclined toward a diplomatic and negotiated path to preserve internal