Mullah Hasan to head Taliban government, Mullah Baradar named deputy: Report

Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada named Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as Afghanistan‘s new head of state, Pakistani media reported. The latter is the chief of the Taliban‘s decision-making body ‘Rehbari Shura’.

As per a PTI report, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Chairman of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha, and Mullah Abdus Salam will be Mullah Hasan’s deputies in the new Taliban government. The new Afghan government is expected to be announced next week, The News International reported, citing multiple sources.

Currently, Mullah Hasan is the head of Rehbari Shura, which serves much like a government Cabinet running all the group’s affairs. However, this will be subjected to the approval of the top leader.

Mullah Hebatullah proposed Mullah Hassan’s name to head the government, Pakistani media said. It added that the issues within the ranks of the Taliban have been resolved.

Mullah Hassan belongs to Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban. He has also worked for 20 years as head of Rehbari Shura and has been close to Mullah Hebatullah.

He also served as foreign minister and deputy prime minister during the Taliban’s previous government in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

Pakistan local media said that Mulla Yaqoob, son of the Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, will be the new defence minister.

Sirajuddin Haqqani is likely to be given the portfolio of interior minister, while Mullah Ameer Khan Muttaqi is expected to be the new foreign minister.

Haqqani, a designated global terrorist, is the head of the Haqqani network.

He is also allegedly involved in the planning of the assassination attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2008.

Mullah Zabiullah Mujahid will reportedly be the new spokesperson for the new head of state.

The Taliban last week postponed the formation of a new government as the insurgent group struggles to give shape to a broad-based and inclusive administration acceptable to the international community.