Indian and Pakistani media reported on the 7th that the Taliban, an Islamic militant group that has taken over Afghanistan, has chosen a “lightweight leader” as the new government’s head.
According to Pakistan’s The News International, the Taliban nominated Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akund as head of the Taliban on the 5th after a leadership meeting.
A senior Taliban leadership official told The News International that supreme leader Haibatula Akundjada had proposed Hassan as head of state.
Hassan is a native of southern Kandahar, where the Taliban was formed, and has been leading the Taliban’s highest committee, Lehvari Shura, for the past 20 years.
He is known to have worked primarily in religious fields rather than military affairs.
During the Taliban’s past rule (1996-2001), he served as foreign minister and deputy prime minister.
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