Abdul Ghani Baradar

Abdul Ghani Baradar, born on September twenty-ninth, nineteen sixty-three, is a prominent Afghan politician and religious leader. He serves as the first deputy prime minister of the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan, alongside Abdul Salam Hanafi. A co-founder of the Taliban, Baradar was a key figure under Mullah Omar, holding the position of his top deputy from two thousand two until two thousand ten.

During the Taliban's initial rule from nineteen ninety-six to two thousand one, Baradar held several senior positions. Following the fall of the Taliban government due to the US-led invasion in two thousand one, he emerged as the leader of the Quetta Shura in Pakistan, effectively becoming the de facto leader of the Taliban. His imprisonment in two thousand ten by Pakistan was likely linked to his secret discussions regarding a peace deal with the Afghan government, which did not involve Pakistan.

Baradar's release in two thousand eighteen came at the request of the United States, leading to his appointment as a deputy leader of the Taliban and head of their political office in Qatar. After the Taliban's victory in August two thousand twenty-one, he returned to Afghanistan and assumed his current government role. Notably, he is regarded as a moderate member of the Taliban.

His influence was recognized internationally when U.S. President Donald Trump co-signed the February two thousand twenty Doha agreement with him, which facilitated the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Following this agreement, the Taliban initiated a military offensive against the Afghan government on August fifteenth, two thousand twenty-one, while the U.S. withdrawal was still in progress. On September fifteenth, two thousand twenty-one, Baradar was honored by Time magazine as one of the '100 Most Influential People In 2021' for his pivotal role in the Taliban's resurgence.