Taliban’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, who appeared earlier than the media for the primary time in a decade at a press convention after the rebel group seized Kabul final month, mentioned that he lived within the Afghan capital proper below the nostril of his adversaries who thought of him a ‘ghost-like’ determine in the course of the conflict.
Mujahid, who operated within the shadows for years, additionally admitted that he studied on the Haqqania seminary in Nowshera in northwest Pakistan, which has additionally been dubbed the Taliban University or the ‘University of Jihad’ internationally.”They (US and Afghan National Forces) used to think I did not exist,” Mujahid instructed The Express Tribune newspaper in an interview.ALSO READ: We see Pakistan as our second dwelling: Taliban spokesperson”I escaped so many times from their raids and attempts to capture me that they seriously considered that ‘Zabiullah’ was a made up figure, not a real man who exists,” the 43-year-old spokesman mentioned.”And yet, I managed to move about Afghanistan freely. I think this perception helped with that,” he defined. “I lived in Kabul for a long time, right under everyone’s noses. I roamed the width and breadth of the country. I also managed to have first-hand access to the frontlines, where the Taliban carried out their actions, and up to date information. It was quite puzzling for our adversaries.”Due to his shadowy appearance for years, there was speculation as to whether the faceless spokesman might actually be more than one person.”The US forces would typically repay locals to acquire some details about my whereabouts. Using that info, like I mentioned, they should have launched dozens of intelligence-based operations hoping to search out some hint of me,” he said. “But I by no means left or tried to even take into consideration attempt to depart Afghanistan.”ALSO READ: Qatar’s high-level delegation meets Taliban leader Akhund, former Aghan president Karzai in KabulMujahid, who was born in the Gardez district of Paktia province sometime in 1978, said that he specialised in Islamic jurisprudence from the Haqqania seminary in northwest Pakistan.The Taliban government’s acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Water and Energy Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor and Telecommunication minister Najibullah Haqqani all on the UN blacklist – and Education Minister Maulana Abdul Baqi Haqqani studied at the Haqqania seminary, which has regularly received grants from successive governments in Pakistan.Mujahid said he became the spokesman of the Taliban following the arrest of his predecessor. He also said that he had never seen the Taliban founder Mullah Umar. “But I’ve labored with Sheikh Mullah Mansoor, and Sheikh Hebatullah,” he mentioned, referring to Mullah Omar’s successors.