The absence of Supreme Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Mullah Baradar in Kabul raised many eyebrows.
Now it is confirmed that the reason for their absence is the infighting in the Taliban and the Haqqani network.
The Daily Mail reported that the fight between the two factions is about the credit for forcing away the US-led NATO forces and distributing aid money.
"The fight had also been over who should take credit for the US retreat, with Baradar arguing that his diplomatic team in Doha should get the credit while Kahlil arguing his network of fighters did the heavy lifting."
Earlier, it was rumoured that Baradar was shot dead by the Haqqani network in the Kabul Palace. After days of speculation, a handwritten note and an audio recording was released by the Taliban to deny the news of Baradar's death.
The Daily Mail also reported that both, Akhundzada and Baradar, are in Kandahar.
"The fighting is threatening to split the Taliban's fledgling government between Baradar, Akhundzada and their allies – including the likes of Abdul Salam Hanafi and Mohammad Yaqoob – on one side, and the fearsome Haqqanis – including Khalil and his nephews Sirajuddin and Anas – on the other…Up for grabs is a pot of $1.2billion in foreign aid which the UN has pledged to Afghanistan – $64million of it from the US – as well as a share of power in the new administration," reported The Daily Telegraph.
The United Nations had warned that "4 million Afghans are facing 'a food emergency' with $36million urgently needed to ensure the planting of winter wheat and feed for livestock, along with cash assistance for vulnerable families, the elderly and the disabled."
