On Wednesday, Taliban’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada appointed Maulvi Abdul Kabir as the acting prime minister of the regime.
All political institutions and ministries have been informed about the change in leadership.
Kabir’s appointment was also reported by the Director General of Press and Ceremonies at the Political Office of Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, who confirmed to Pajhwok Afghan News that he was temporarily appointed as PM.
Who is Maulvi Abdul Kabir?
Kabir is originally from the Paktika province, located in eastern Afghanistan. He belongs to the Zadran tribe.
The Taliban leader has held several high-level positions in the regime. Before being appointed as PM, he served as the Taliban’s deputy PM for political affairs. Moreover, after the Taliban took control in August 2021, Kabir was appointed as the assistant to the economic deputy of Akhund.
Mullah Muhammad Hasan is ill. Maulvi Abdul Kabir has been appointed as the caretaker of the Council of Ministers .
— zahidi (@sifzahidi) May 16, 2023
Director General of #Press and Ceremonies of the Political Department of the State Minister Mohammad Hassan Haqyar also confirmed to #Pajhwok Afghan #News that… pic.twitter.com/t03T3cUVIx
In the former Taliban regime, which governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, Kabir was appointed as the Nangarhar province’s governor. After the government collapsed, he held the position of the head of the Peshawar Council, making him influential in the region and among his tribe members. In this regard, he played a critical role in discussions with foreign-supported Afghan governments and Western officials, who were using his influence to negotiate solutions for peace.
More importantly, he was a critical player in the negotiations with the US in Qatar, which resulted in the historic Doha Agreement between the US and the Taliban. The peace deal facilitated the end of the decades-long American military presence in Afghanistan.
He was also appointed as a member of a negotiation team established to lead intra-Afghan talks with the West-backed government facilitated by the Doha Agreement. However, the talks failed to achieve a settlement between the two sides, resulting in the ouster of the former Afghan government.
Former PM Falls Ill
Kabir is replacing Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, who is reportedly unable to exercise his duty due to health reasons. Kabir will hold the position until Akhund recovers.
While the Taliban has not made public any information about the former PM’s illness, local media reports suggest that he has been suffering from heart disease. He is reportedly in Kandahar seeking treatment.