Abdul Ghani Baradar, co-founder of the Taliban, says he is “living and healthy” despite death rumours

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban, delivered an audio message on Monday amid reports that he had perished in a power struggle with Anas Haqqani, the commander of the Haqqani Network. Barabar is heard claiming in the recording that he is “alive and well” and that any claims of death or injury are “false propaganda.”

Barabar, designated as Mullah Mohammed Hassan Akhund’s deputy, was severely wounded in a shootout between competing Taliban forces at the presidential palace over the last two days, according to sources. “I have been out on vacations for the past few nights. We are all OK, all my brothers and friends, wherever I am at the moment “In the recording, he’s heard stating.

“Fake propaganda is always published in the media. As a result, I deny all of those lies, and I can assure you that there is no issue and that we have no problem “Barabar added to this.

The viral audio clip’s validity could not be independently verified by HT.

According to several media accounts, the gunshots heard in Kabul on Friday night was the result of a power struggle between two top Taliban officials, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the group’s co-founder, and Afghan Taliban leader Haqqani. The incident is said to have occurred as a result of a disagreement among Taliban officials on how to deal with the situation in Panjshir, the last stronghold of resistance forces.

The Afghan National Resistance Front (NRF) has been fighting the Taliban, who aim to take control of the country’s last bastion, which is now under their control.

Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s ultimate leader, was likewise rumoured to have died for years before the group’s spokesperson announced he was “present in Kandahar” two weeks after they took power.

After taking over Afghanistan in a rapid onslaught last month, the Taliban introduced their cabinet on September 7, formally announcing their government. Mullah Mohammad Hassan, the little-known head of the Taliban’s leadership council, will command the “acting” government, according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid at a press conference in Kabul. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Islamist group’s public face, has been selected as his deputy.

Khairullah Khairkhwa, the country’s information minister, Mullah Yaqoob, the country’s defence minister, and Amir Mutaqqi, the country’s foreign minister, were also named.

There was no proof of non-Talibans in the line-up, which the international community had demanded. Women were not mentioned as part of any governance structure by the organisation.