Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty July 22, 2017 The son of Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada died on July 20 carrying out a suicide attack in the embattled Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesman said on July 22. A government official said authorities were investigating the incident and could not confirm that Haibatullah’s son
Ayaz Gul VOA News June 23, 2017 ISLAMABAD — The leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban says the United States will be “making a mistake” by increasing its troop numbers to combat the insurgents, who have vowed to fight until the end of the “illegitimate [foreign] occupation” of the country. Maulavi Haibatullah Akhunzadah made the remarks Friday in
Tolo News: In a meeting with the UN Security Council’s sanction committee on Monday, President Ashraf Ghani asked the organization to add a number of terrorists – including Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada’s name – to its sanctions list. According to a press release issued by the Presidential Palace on Monday, Ghani stressed the Afghan government’s
Ayaz Gul VOA News October 18, 2016 ISLAMABAD — The Taliban has formally refuted reports of secret meetings with Afghan government officials, insisting there has been no change in the group’s policy for holding peace negotiations. The Guardian newspaper, in an exclusive article published Tuesday, quoted anonymous Afghan officials and sources within the Taliban as confirming
Ayaz Gul VOA News October 18, 2016 ISLAMABAD — Senior Afghan government and Taliban representatives reportedly have held at least two secret meetings in recent days in a bid to resume a long-awaited peace dialogue to end the war in Afghanistan. A source within the National Unity Government (NUG) in Kabul has confirmed to VOA the
Tolo News: The new leader of the Afghan Taliban Haibatullah Akhundzada reportedly taught and preached openly for 15 years at the Al Haaj mosque in Kuchlak, near Quetta in Pakistan. According to a report by Reuters, Akhundzada is now believed to be in hiding in Afghanistan. Akhundzada reportedly slipped across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border just two days before being
Khaama Press: The deputy permanent representative of India to the United Nations Ambassador Tanmaya Lal has questioned the lack of steps to designate the Taliban supreme leader a terrorist individual. In his speech during the UN Security Council Debate on situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Lal said “The fact that the
VOA News Ayaz Gul July 2, 2016 ISLAMABAD—The new Taliban chief has called for the United States to end its “occupation” of Afghanistan, saying the Islamist insurgency is determined to “salvage” the country from the claw of the infidel occupation and mischief.” Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada made the remarks Saturday in connection with the annual Eid
Press TV June 11, 2016 The leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist group, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has reportedly pledged allegiance to the new Taliban leader in Afghanistan. Zawahri pledged assistance to Haibatullah Akhundzada — the new leader of Taliban — in a 14-minute online audio message on Saturday, the report said. The authenticity of the recording, however,
Khaama Press: An influential Pakistani religious scholar who was once labeled as the ‘Father of Taliban’ has endorsed the war skills of the newly-appointed Taliban chief. Sami-ul-Haq warned that Afghanistan would see a surge in violence following the ascension of new Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah. Afghan defense officials dismissed the skills endorsement by Sami-ul-Haq and said the Mullah