Afghanistan: Taliban says chief makes first public look

Taliban supreme chief Hibatullah Akhundzada made his first public look since taking management of the group, Taliban officers mentioned Sunday.
If true, this is able to be his first public look in Afghanistan.
His absence from the general public sphere had fueled hypothesis over his position throughout the new Taliban authorities shaped in mid-August, with some rumors of his loss of life.
According to officers, Akhundzada visited the Darul Uloom Hakimah madrassa within the southern Afghan metropolis of Kandahar late Saturday.
‘Big test’ for Taliban authorities
Akhundzada addressed his supporters, “brave soldiers and disciples,” in keeping with the introduction to an audio clip circulated by Taliban social media accounts.
“May God reward the oppressed people of Afghanistan who fought the infidels and the oppressors for 20 years,” Akhundzada may very well be heard saying within the audio clip.
“My intention here is to pray for you and you pray for me,” he mentioned within the 10-minute recording.
He mentioned Taliban officers confronted a “big test” of rebuilding what they name the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
“Let’s pray that we come out of this big test successfully. May Allah help us stay strong,” he mentioned.
There have been no images or video of his look, which occurred beneath tight safety.
Who is Hibatullah Akhundzada?
Akhundzada, a non secular scholar, has led the Taliban since his predecessor, Akhtar Mansour, was killed by a US drone strike in 2016.
He is the final word authority in all political, spiritual and army affairs throughout the militant group.
Akhundzada has remained a reclusive determine even after the Taliban seized energy in Afghanistan.
Within the Taliban, he’s seen as extra of a non secular figurehead than a army commander.