Date:05/06/1403 Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the elusive leader of the Taliban, has issued a new order stating that, except for the central spokespeople and ministries of the group, no one is authorized to make statements on behalf of the Taliban. The Bakhtar News Agency, under the control of the Taliban, reported on Monday, September 5th, citing the new order, that the central spokespeople and Taliban offices should only release statements on political matters that have been approved by the leader of the group.

According to the report, the central spokespeople of the Taliban are instructed to refrain from publishing anything not authorized by Akhundzada. The order also limits the activities of spokespeople from Taliban ministries to their respective offices. Under this directive, they are required to share information only after it has been confirmed by the relevant minister or head of the respective office.

Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have consistently sought to obscure the truth from the Afghan public. Over the past three years, the group has imposed severe restrictions on journalists and the media.

Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada further centralizes control over information and reinforces the group's strategy of information suppression. By restricting all public statements to pre-approved narratives from select spokespeople, the Taliban are formalizing a system of top-down censorship. This move not only limits transparency but also deepens the chilling effect on media, civil servants, and public discourse. It complements the group’s broader crackdown on independent journalism and is indicative of an authoritarian approach to controlling truth and public perception.