The Times Magazine has released a list of the 100 most influential people of 2021, including the Taliban leader and the Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and the Indian Prime Minister, along with the US, Chinese and Iranian presidents.
The American magazine publishes a list of influential figures in September each year, which includes rulers, actors, social figures and legislators, including science and technology.
Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has been added to the list of rulers or politicians for 2021.
Abdul Ghani Baradar is a key leader of the Taliban government and is the caretaker Prime Minister.
Abdul Ghani Baradar grew up in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and spent most of his life as a resistance fighter after the Russian occupation in 1970. He fought on several fronts with Mullah Omar, the former Taliban leader and founder of the organization. Taken
The two co-founded the Taliban in 1990 with the aim of eradicating corruption and chaos from the country, which had become widespread after the Russian retreat.
He was part of a short-lived resistance group that worked with Hamid Karzai's government in 2001 after the US invasion and the end of the Taliban regime, following an agreement.
It may be recalled that Mullah Baradar was arrested by Pakistan in 2010 and Pakistan was pressured by the US to release him in 2018. After his release, he moved to Qatar.
After moving to Qatar, Mullah Baradar was appointed head of the Taliban's political office, during which he signed a successful peace deal with the United States.
The list of influential people in Times Magazine includes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, US Vice President Kamala Horse, Chinese President, Iranian President, former US President Donald Trump, Indian politician and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
All these personalities have been included in the list of rulers or politicians.
The list of influential people also includes British Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle and they have been placed at the top of the list of icons.
The Times list also includes singer and actress Britney Spears, tennis star Naomi Osaka, Billy Ilish, actress Kate Winslet, Scarlett Johnson, filmmaker Chloe Xiao, head of technology company Apple Tim Cook and SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
Times Magazine's list of leaders did not include any Pakistani politicians, including any Middle Eastern ruler or politician.
Similarly, Asian artists have been overlooked in the artist list and no Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Indian or Pakistani artist has been included in the list.
