From the Republic to the Taliban: Khurasani Says He Wants Neither Position Nor Power, but His Past Raises Questions

By Ehsan Babak, political writer

Abdul Hamid Khurasani now says that he is not seeking a position, rank, or office and that he is not someone who flatters others. However, looking at his political and military past raises serious questions about his positions, choices, and claims.

During the republic, Khurasani had links with political currents opposed to the Taliban. However, in the final days of the republican government, he joined the Taliban and, after the government fell, secured a position within the group’s structure. Later, his relations with Taliban officials were repeatedly marked by disputes and dismissal, as well as reports of his detention.

Now that he speaks of the insignificance of positions and offices, a question arises: if positions and power meant nothing to him, why did he accept a responsibility within the Taliban’s governing structure? If his only goal was the rule of religion, why did his relations with the group’s leaders repeatedly end in disputes?

Of course, holding a position does not in itself indicate a thirst for power, and changing one’s political stance alone does not prove that a person is a flatterer. However, anyone who accuses others of flattery today should be prepared for their own record and past decisions to be examined by the same standard.

Politics is not a field of slogans; it is a field of accountability. The standard for judging anyone should be not their claims today, but their conduct, decisions, and positions over time. If Khurasani wants his words to be taken seriously, he should provide a clear explanation of his past, his reasons for joining the Taliban, his acceptance of a position within the group, and his subsequent disputes.

The fundamental question is this: does this change of stance reflect a political and ideological conviction, or is it a result of personal disagreements and struggles over status and authority? The answer should be sought in the evidence and his record, not merely in his slogans.

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