By the order of the Taliban movement leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, the most influential Uzbek Taliban commander, Qari Salahuddin Ayubi, has been appointed as the governor of Afghanistan's Logar province. This was reported by the "Strategic Focus: Central Asia" source.
Official position, unofficial control
According to experts, behind this appointment lie the strategic intentions of the Taliban's Pashtun elite: they aim to reduce Ayubi's influence in the region by distancing him from the North.
For now, he lives in Kabul and commutes to Logar for work—this allows central intelligence services to keep him under regular surveillance.
Against the backdrop of ISIL connections
There have been previous reports about Qari Salahuddin's close ties with "ISIS – Khorasan."
His appointment to Logar is seen by some analysts as a move to sever these connections and turn him into a "controlled asset" within the Taliban circle.
Allegations of hidden threats
Other sources suggest that behind this appointment may lie a plan to completely eliminate him. That is, the possibility of physically eliminating him in Logar itself cannot be ruled out.
This situation could alter the balance of power among ethnic groups in northern Afghanistan, particularly among Uzbeks. It also serves as one of the key indicators of ethnic rivalry within the Taliban, the growing role of special services, and the formation of a centralized control system.
