The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has appointed Mawlawi Abdul Kabir as the country’s new caretaker Prime Minister, replacing Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, who was unwell for a long time. Abdul Kabir, who is said to be very close to the Pakistan establishment and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was given the top post by Mawlavi Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Islamic Emirate.
The Taliban said Hassan Akhund, who has served as PM since the group’s return to power in 2021, was unwell and would be away from duty until he recovered.
Abdul Kabir, who is a fundamentalist, has been named in several suicide attacks in the past and has also been blacklisted by the United Nations.
Caretaker Prime Minister Abdul Kabir, who comes from the Jadran tribe in eastern Paktika province, previously served as governor of Nangarhar province from 1996 to 2001 during the former Taliban rule.
He is an international face of the Taliban and was a member of the group’s negotiating team in Qatar. He held various roles within the organization.
When the Taliban seized power in August 2021, as US and NATO forces were pulling out of Afghanistan after two decades of war, Abdul Kabir was appointed as assistant to Hassan Akhund’s economic deputy, he later In held the post of political deputy of the Taliban. Prime Minister. Later, he was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs.
The Taliban has declined to comment on its role in suicide attacks in the past.