Taliban release Afghan interim PM Mullah Hasan Akhund's latest picture

By
Web Desk

September 13, 2021

Mullah Hasan Akhund photographed sitting on a chair during a meeting. Photo: Taliban Spokesperson in Doha Mohammad Nadeem.
Mullah Hasan Akhund photographed sitting on a chair during a meeting. Photo: Taliban Spokesperson in Doha Mohammad Nadeem. 

  • Taliban spokesperson shares latest picture of Afghanistan's deputy prime minister. 
  • In the fresh photo, Akhund can be seen with a white flowing beard and white hair. 
  • Akhund had last visited Pakistan in 1999 as Afghanistan's foreign minister. 

The Taliban released Afghanistan's interim Prime Minister Mullah Hasan Akhund's latest picture on Monday.

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The picture was shared by Mohammad Naeem, the Taliban's spokesperson at the Doha office. In the picture, Akhund can be seen sitting on a chair. 

Till now, masses only had access to old pictures of the Afghan interim prime minister, who looks younger in them with black hair and a black bear. Compared to his previous pictures, the latest one shows him as an old man with a long white beard and white hair. 

As Afghanistan's foreign minister in 1999, Akhund had visited Pakistan where he had met then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif.  A picture of the two heartily shaking hands can be seen below. 

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif shakes Mullah Hasan Akhunds hands. Photo: File
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif shakes Mullah Hasan Akhund's hands. Photo: File

Other key members of the new Afghan government, who were sworn in on September 11, 2021, are:

  • Taliban co-founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar - acting deputy prime minister
  • Taliban negotiator in Doha, Amir Khan Muttaqi - acting foreign minister
  • Abas Stanikzai - acting deputy foreign minister
  • Son of Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, Mullah Yaqoob - acting defense minister
  • Leader of the feared Haqqani network, Sirajuddin Haqqani - acting interior minister

The Taliban spokesman had earlier clarified that these persons were part of an "acting" government. 

"Thankyou, firstly, as you said, the government we announced is an acting government, it is not the future and permanent government. Some of the ministers have not been declared yet, which will be soon," Zabiullah Mujahid had said in a press conference last week. 

"The declaration of government is not final. These are acting ministers. I do not say they are not deserving, but at this stage, we are at an emergency state," he had added.