Kabul, October 12, 2025 – The Afghan Taliban regime has barred Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, former prime minister and Hezb-e-Islami leader, from traveling abroad, escalating efforts to curb his influence. His son, Habib-ur-Rahman, confirmed the ban, accusing the Taliban of stifling his father’s public meetings out of fear of his political clout. “They call exiles back with promises of safety but shackle my father’s movements,” he said, slamming the regime’s tactics to control returning leaders.
The 76-year-old warlord, once a Taliban ally, has grown critical, using Zoom to urge reforms on women’s rights and governance. The Taliban, rattled by his defiance, has restricted him since their 2021 takeover—shutting his party offices, seizing his TV channel, and raiding facilities. In March 2024, they evicted him from his Darul Aman home, relocating him to Wazir Akbar Khan. Public rallies and mosque speeches are now off-limits, with the Justice Minister hinting Hekmatyar’s presence in Kabul was a misstep.
The travel ban signals Kabul’s broader clampdown on dissent, with dozens of ex-officials and tribal elders similarly grounded. As Afghanistan grapples with economic collapse and a humanitarian crisis, the Taliban’s paranoia risks alienating even their old guard. Habib-ur-Rahman warned, “This isn’t safety—it’s a cage.” With Hekmatyar’s voice muffled, the regime aims to tighten its grip, but his calls for change echo beyond Kabul’s borders.
