Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada

Afghanistan International: Afghanistan’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva said Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has become increasingly isolated and is under constant scrutiny from foreign surveillance and political pressure. Nasir Ahmad Andisha said Akhundzada disapproves of the repeated visits to Kabul by Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special envoy for Afghanistan, but is effectively unable to prevent them. “Drones in the sky and Khalilzad on the ground are keeping Hibatullah Akhundzada under watch,” Andisha told Afghanistan International. He added that the Taliban leader has become “like a ghost” in Kandahar and no longer trusts those around him. Click here to read more (external link).