Taliban have nominated Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as new head of state

NEW DELHI: After days of consultations, the Taliban have nominated Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as the new head of state, according to senior leaders, a media report said. They said the new government was likely to be installed on Wednesday, "or may get delayed for a few more days", The News International reported.

"Ameerul Momineen Sheikh Hibatullah Akhunzada had himself proposed Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as Raees-e-Jamhoor, or raees-ul-wazara or the new head state of Afghanistan. Mullah Baradar Akhund and Mullah Abdus Salam will work as his deputies," a senior Taliban leader told The News. The report said three Taliban leaders confirmed Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund's nomination.

Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund is presently head of the Taliban's powerful decision-making body, Rehbari Shura or leadership council. He belongs to Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, and was among the founders of the armed movement, the report said.

"He worked for 20 years as head of Rehbari Shura and earned himself a very good reputation. He is a religious leader rather than a military background and is known for his character and devotion," said another Taliban leader. He said Mullah Hasan remained close to Sheikh Hibatullah Akhunzada for 20 years.

According to the Taliban, Mullah Hasan had worked on important positions during their previous government in Afghanistan. He was foreign minister and then made deputy prime minister when Mullah Mohammad Rabbani Akhund was the prime minister.

Similarly, the Taliban said another veteran Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, head of the Haqqani Network, is proposed as federal interior minister, the report said. He has also been authorised to nominate governors for the eastern provinces, from where the Haqqani Network used to draw its force. They are Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Gardez, Nangarhar and Kunar.

Similarly, Mullah Yaqoob, son of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, has been approved as Afghanistan's defence minister. Mullah Yaqoob was a student of Sheikh Hibatullah Akhunzada in his madrasa and renamed close to him. (IANS)

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