Taliban in Afghanistan: who is in charge?


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The Taliban, Afghanistan's insurgent group turned ruling movement, now faces the prospect of governing a country of 40 million people.

There are at least 14 ethnic groups among them, from Afghanistan's arid south to the snow-capped mountains of the north.

They rose to power, taking Kabul last week, as rapidly as they fell in 2001 after a US-led international invasion, which backed a coalition of northern Afghan groups.

In just 10 days they took control of major cities, walking into the capital city unopposed and leaving Ahraf Ghani, the internationally recognised president, to flee abroad.

Since then, the group has declared victory and Mr Ghani has conceded.

A number of people stood out during the group's rise and fall – and an unfamiliar figure stood in front of the cameras on Tuesday.

Here are the Taliban leaders you need to know:

Hibatullah Akhundzada

Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Hibatullah Akhundzada is the Taliban's supreme commander, but more of a figurehead than a key player. He is the third person to fill the role of spiritual leader, often issuing fatwas, or religious rulings, on a range of topics.

He came to power in 2016 after his predecessor, Akhtar Mansour, was killed in a US drone strike.

Born in Kandahar's Panjwayi district in 1961, his family moved to Pakistan during the Soviet invasion of 1979 before Mr Akhundzada fought against the Soviets in the early 1980s.

In 1996, upon the Taliban capture of Kabul during the Afghan civil war of the 1990s, which ushered in Taliban rule until 2001, Mr Akhundzada became a member of the group's Department of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which enforced the Taliban's interpretation of Sharia.

He rose through the ranks, becoming a spiritual advisor to Mohammed Omar, the group's leader and co-founder, and then served as the group's deputy leader in 2015.

Omar is remembered for refusing to hand over wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden in 2001 after the September 11 attacks, leading the US to rally an international alliance against the Taliban.

Mr Akhundzada survived two assassination attempts – one in 2012 and another in 2019 by Afghan forces.

Abdul Ghani Baradar

Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, at an international peace conference in Moscow, Russia.
Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, at an international peace conference in Moscow, Russia.

Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar is expected to lead the country after the events of August 15 that led to Kabul's capture.

Mr Baradar was released eight years after his 2010 detention by Pakistani forces to lead intra-Afghan political discussions with the government. US envoy for peace in Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Mr Baradar was freed at the request of the US.

A year later, Mr Baradar was heading talks with the US in Doha aimed at paving the way for peace in the country.

Mr Baradar and Mr Khalilzad were co-signatories to the US-Taliban agreement of 2020.

Born in 1968, as a teenager Mr Baradar met Omar, becoming his deputy as the mujahideen fought against the Soviets in the 1980s before founding the group today known as the Taliban in 1994.

Omar gave Abdul Ghani the baradar pseudonym, which means brother, in a show of endearment.

Mohammad Yaqoob

Son of Taliban co-founder Mohammed Omar, Mohammad Yaqoob became the second deputy leader of the group under Mr Akhundzada's leadership.

He largely controlled the Taliban's military wing and in 2020 was made military chief.

At 31, Mr Yaqoob is relatively young, but took over the group when Mr Akhundzada was found to have Covid-19, a senior commander told Foreign Policy.

Sirajuddin Haqqani

Sirajuddin Haqqani.
Sirajuddin Haqqani.

Son of Jalaluddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani terrorist group, Sirajuddin is one of the group's highest-ranking members.

The Haqqani network is behind some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan in recent history and remains a menacing power in the region, competing with the country's ISIS affiliate.

Sirajuddin, who is believed to be in his 40s, is wanted by the US government.

The Haqqani group is responsible for the Taliban's finances and military assets on the border with Afghanistan.

Little else is known about Sirajuddin.

Abdul Hakim Mujahid

Abdul Hakim Mujahid, Afghan ambassador to Pakistan and spokesman for the Taliban.
Abdul Hakim Mujahid, Afghan ambassador to Pakistan and spokesman for the Taliban.

Abdul Hakim Mujahid was appointed head negotiator for the Taliban's delegation in Doha. He ran an Islamic religious school – known as a madrassa – in Pakistan and played a senior role in the Taliban's judicial department.

He is another who is close to Mr Akundzada and is an influential figure in the Taliban's religious circle.

You can follow the latest from Afghanistan on our live blog.

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LUKA CHUPPI

Director: Laxman Utekar

Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema

Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon​​​​​​​, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana

Rating: 3/5

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Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League 
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals

2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25  

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Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Updated: August 21, 2021, 4:52 AM