The Taliban have elected Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund as the new Prime Minister of Afghanistan. Who is Mullah Hassan Akhund? Let's take a look at his political life.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund served as foreign minister in the first Taliban regime, and for a long time headed the Taliban's leadership council. He was the Taliban's first foreign minister and later deputy prime minister during the Taliban's last term, from 1996 to 2001.
Mullah Hassan Akhund was nominated as the new head of government in Afghanistan by his deputy, Abdul Ghani Baradar. Mullah Hassan Akhund hails from Kandahar, where al-Qaeda was born. The list of people banned by the United Nations included Mullah Hassan Akhund, who has been identified as a close associate and political adviser to Mullah Omar.
Foreign news agency Reuters quoted sources as saying that the top leadership of the Taliban in the movement, especially the current leader Habibullah, Mullah Akhund, respects him very much. Mullah Hassan Akhund is considered more of a political leader than a religious one. He also controls military affairs with the Leadership Council. His family lineage goes back to Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of modern Afghanistan.
He has played an important leadership and guiding role in the Leadership Council. The shura, also known as the Quetta shura, was formed in 2001 after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. Mullah Hassan Akhund is also the author of several books on Islam.
