Whether the elderly cleric is alive or dead is something many Afghans are uncertain about, and even the most dedicated analysts have doubts about who is really leading the group.On October 30 -- two months after a Taliban spokesman insisted Akhundzada was alive and well in Kandahar -- rumours swirled in the southern city that the "emir" had delivered a speech at a Koranic school, or madrassa.
In one of the poorest suburbs of Kandahar, between a litter-strewn stream and a dirt track, two Taliban fighters stand guard in front of the Hakimia madrassa's blue-and-white gate. He quickly secured the backing of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, who called him "the emir of the faithful". The supreme leader's appearance scotched "rumours and propaganda" about his death, said Maulvi Said Ahmad, who heads the madrassa where Akhundzada reportedly appeared.- 'Long been dead' -
This theory, sometimes with slight variations, is seen as credible by several foreign intelligence agencies. In the early 1990s, as the Islamist insurgency was taking hold in the wake of the Soviet occupation, Akhundzada, then in his thirties, returned to the village. His mastery of Islamic law made him the head of the Taliban's shadow justice system and the acclaimed trainer of a whole generation of fighters who graduated through Quetta.Akhundzada was "the centre of gravity for the Taliban... keeping the group intact", one Pakistan-based Taliban member told AFP.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Taliban urges US to release frozen funds in Doha talksThe Taliban renewed its call for the United States to release billions of dollars in frozen funds after two days of talks in Doha as aid-dependent Afghanistan grapples with economic crisis.
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »
US Supreme Court appears likely to roll back abortion rightsWASHINGTON: The conservative-dominated Supreme Court appeared poised on Wednesday (Dec 1) to roll back abortion rights in the United States by upholding a law in the southern state of Mississippi that would ban the procedure after 15 weeks. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the imposing court in W
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
German leaders huddle to finalise emergency Covid planChancellor Angela Merkel and her designated successor Olaf Scholz will meet German regional leaders on Thursday to finalise new measures to tackle surging Covid cases, with compulsory jabs among the options on the table.
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »
New Delhi shuts schools, colleges again due to air pollutionIndia's capital New Delhi has ordered the closure of schools and colleges until further notice from Friday after the Supreme Court criticised the city government for reopening educational institutions despite 'very poor' air quality. The city government last week decided to reopen schools and colleges after closing them for nearly 15 days due to a spike in air pollution. On Thursday, the Supreme Court, which is hearing a public petition over the government's inability to cut air pollution, expressed its dismay over the government's decision to reopen schools and colleges.
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »
WP leaders knew Raeesah Khan lied months before public admission, but decided to let her talk to family first: Pritam SinghSINGAPORE — Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh revealed on Thursday (Dec 2) that party leaders knew that former Member of Parliament (MP) Raeesah Khan had lied in a Parliamentary speech a week after she delivered it and nearly three months before she set the record straight in Parliament.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Analysts disagree with WP's handling of Raeesah Khan matter, but some party members say leaders did what they couldThis could have resolved as soon as they know that she was lying. Allowing this untruth to continue festering is a lack of leadership on WP’s part. Analysts are always welcome to form a political party and take part in the “democratic” process of being elected before sprouting rubbish and be a keyboard or saliva warrior…😷
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »