Taliban ‘acting’ govt chief: Who is Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund?

Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, the chief of the Taliban's powerful decision-making body 'Rehbari Shura', has been named as the head of Taliban's 'acting' government. 

Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund who is presently head of Rehbari Shura or leadership council, belongs to Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, and was among the founders of the armed movement, reports asianetnews.com. 

"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.

As per reports, the new government is likely to be formed on Wednesday a day ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks or it "may get delayed for a few more days".

Also, according to the Taliban sources, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid was earlier tasked to be appointed as the new information minister but the leadership changed their mind and decided to engage him as spokesman for the head of the state, Mullah Hasan Akhund.

Mohammad Hasan Akhund, the senior Taliban leader appointed as acting Afghan prime minister, is an experienced former cabinet minister with the ear of the movement's spiritual head, according to Taliban sources and analysts.

Analysts see Akhund as a political figure, with his control over the leadership council also giving him a say in military affairs.

When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, he served first as foreign minister and then as deputy prime minister. Like many of the incoming cabinet, he is under UN sanctions for his role in that government.

Akhund does not appear to be a religious scholar with the standing of spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, according to Asfandyar Mir, an analyst at the United States Institute for Peace, who has closely studied the Taliban leadership.

"He appears to be more of a political person," he said. "His main claim to power is that he had a very senior role pre-9/11."

Like many in the hardline Islamist movement's leadership, Akhund derives much of his prestige from his advanced years and proximity to the Taliban's late founder, Mullah Omar.

Akhund is believed at least in his mid-60s and possibly older. A European Union sanctions notice puts him as old as 76.

"He is very old in age, he is the oldest person in (senior) Taliban ranks," said a Taliban source.

A UN sanctions report describes him as having been a "close associate and political adviser" to Omar, and one of the Taliban's most effective commanders.

Akhund is also well regarded across the organisation and is particularly close to Akhundzada, a Taliban source said.

"People respect him very highly, especially Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful)," he said, using Akhundzada's honorific title.

At the same time, as an ethnic Pashtun from the southern province of Kandahar, from which the Taliban emerged in the early 1990s and where it draws some of its strongest support, he is likely to appeal to the movement's core base, Mir said.

But like many of the group's leaders, little is known in the West about his thinking, he added.