Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund is a former premier of the Taliban’s previous government from 1996-2001 and is considered a hardliner religious personality.

He was born in the village named Pashmul in the Argandab area of Kandahar province, the origin and birthplace of the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was among the founders of the armed movement in Afghanistan in the past. His name was placed on the terror list of the United Nations (UN).

The United States had made an agreement with the Taliban in Doha to remove the names of the leaders of the later from terror lists but yet to be implemented on it.

Taliban had also shown their annoyance on non-implementation of the agreement from the USA saying America had broken its promise so they were not bound of it anymore to induct its leaders in the government.

Mullah Akhund’s appointment is an example of it. He was recently heading the Taliban’s top decision decision-making body—Rehbari Shura (leadership council)—that was serving much like a government after capturing Kabul.

The top leadership of the Taliban, Mullah Hebatullah himself proposed Mullah Hasan’s name to head the government. He had also served his nation as a foreign minister in the Taliban’s previous government.

There were some allegations on him to have headed the destruction of the statues of Buddha in Bamiyan before 9/11 in 2001. Later, he was also noted as a leader of the Quetta Shura, acknowledged by the Pakistani government in 2009.

Reportedly, it is believed that Hasan was educated at a seminary in Pakistan and later he joined the Hizb-e-Islami during a war against The Soviet Union in the 80s.

He is considered as one of the “original 30 Taliban” in the records of the UN.