POLITICS — February 15, 2026
Taliban Defense Minister Urges Members to Avoid Ethnic and Linguistic Prejudices
Taliban Defense Minister Yaqub Mujahid called on group members to avoid ethnic and linguistic prejudices at the 37th anniversary ceremony of the Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi claimed no such prejudices exist within the Taliban.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
KABUL — Taliban Defense Minister Yaqub Mujahid urged members of the group to refrain from ethnic and linguistic prejudices during a ceremony on Sunday marking the 37th anniversary of the withdrawal of former Soviet Red Army forces from Afghanistan.
Mujahid, speaking on February 15, described such prejudices as the result of "narrow-mindedness."
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Taliban deputy prime minister for administrative affairs, stated that no ethnic prejudices exist within the group.
The remarks were made amid accusations against Taliban officials of engaging in ethnic and linguistic biases. After regaining control, the Taliban removed Persian and Uzbek languages from most signs and government offices. Political experts say 90 percent of cabinet seats are held by Pashtun members of the group.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single source from an anti-Taliban outlet reporting direct statements by named officials at a specific public event, but the story includes strongly biased framing with accusatory context and unverified claims attributed to unnamed political experts (e.g., 90% Pashtun cabinet).
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Hasht-e Subh
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Politics — Taliban, Yaqub Mujahid, Abdul Salam Hanafi, ethnic prejudices, Soviet withdrawal
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