Profile of Taleban Leaders - Chart

Ahmad Rashid

1994-2001
Appendices Extract from Taleban; the Book

Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahed:
Regarded as the Ameerul Mo'mineen. He belonged to Maiwand, Qandahar and was aged 37. His education was obtained from Qandahar Madrassa. During Jehad against the Russians, he had lost one eye during a battle. Mullah Omar is a Ghilzai Hotak.

Mullah Muhammad Rabbani:
Chairman of the Kabul Shura and regarded as second in command to Mullah Muhammad Omar. He was also from Qandahar and was aged 38. He belongs to the Kakarh Tribe.

Mullah Muhammad Hassan:
Served as Foreign Minister after 1997. He is also a Ghilzai Hotak and a close relative of Mullah Omar. His education was completed at a madrassa in Qandahar.

Mullah Muhammad Ghaus:
He served as Foreign Minister and retired in 1997. His position was taken by Mullah Muihammad Hassan. Mullah Ghaus belonged to Khushab near Qandahar and was aged 50. He belongs to the Noorzai Tribe. Like Most other Taleban leades, he is also blind in one eye. There is little sight in the other one. He is regarded as a close friend and associate of Mullah Omar.

Mullah Abdur Razaq:
Minister of the Customs Department. He hails from Qandahar and is a Popalzai.

Mullah Syed Ghiasudin:
He is minister of Education Department and belongs to Faryab.

Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa:
He is from the Interior Ministry and hails from Qandahar. He also belongs to the Popalzai tribe. His education was completed at Darul Uloom Haqania, Akora Khattak, near Nowshera, NWFP.

Mullah Ehsanullah Ehsan:
Served as Governor of State Bank of Afghanistan. Hailing from Panjwaj near Qandahar. He also served as Governor of Khost province. Mullah Ehsan was martyred in Mazar Sharif in 1997.

Maulvi Abdul Sattar Sanani:
Maulvi Abdul Sattar served as Chief Justice of Qandahar Supreme Court. He hailed from Qandahar and was amongst the most senior Taleban leaders at age 80. His tribe was Ishaqzai and he was educated in Qandahar Madrassah.

Muhammad Abbas:
He was incharge of the Health Ministry and also for dealings with UN Agencies. Muhammad Abbas hailed from Urozgan and was aged 80. He was a Ghilzai Hotak. He started his education in Zabul Madrassa but later on shifted to Darul Uloom Haqqania from where he graduated. After education, he did started trading business in Qandahar and soon became Mayor of Qandahar. Later, he served on post of Attorney General and then commander in Baghlan Force.

Obaidullah Obaid:
Obaidullah Obaid was incharge of the Defence Ministry. He was a Ghilzai Hotak and hailed from Qandahar. His education was completed in Quetta. In conquest of Mazar Sharif, he was arrested by the Northern Alliance. Obaidullah Obaid also served as military liaision between the Taleban and the ISI.

Mullah Dadullah:
Mullah Dadullah was minister of Construction Department.

Muhammadullah Akhund:
Was incharge of the Finance Ministry. He was an Alikozai from Qandahar.

Amir Khan Muttaqi:
He was incharge of the Information and Culture Ministry. Amir Khan was a Kochi Nomad from Logar province. He completed his education from Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak and was a close friend of Mullah Omar. He served as commander in the Baghlan force after conquest of Mazar Sharif.

Abdul Latif Mansoor:
He was incharge of the Agriculture Ministry and belonged to Paktia. His studies were completed at Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak.

Muhammad Isa:
He was incharge of the Water and Power Ministry. He was a Ghilzai Hotak from Qandahar.

Allah Dad Akhund:
Allah dad Akhund was incharge of the Communications Ministry. He was a Ghilzai Hotak from Qandahar. He also runs a successful Madrassah in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

Mullah Noorudin Turabi:
He was incharge of the Justice Ministry and was a Ghilzai Hotak hailing from Urozgan. Like most Taleban leaders, he was blind in one eye.

Hamidullah Nemani:
He was minister of Department of Higher Education. Belonging to the Daftani tribe, Hamidullah Nemani hailed from Zabul province. He has not received any formal education at all.

Maulvi Ahmad Jan:
He was minister of Mines and Industries. Maulvi Ahmad Jan was a Zadran from Paktia and was aged 40. His studies were completed at Darul Uloom Haqqania. After graduating, he did business as a Carpet Dealer in Saudi Arabia. He also served as Taleban Trade Commissioner in Peshawar and Chief Negotiator with Oil Companies.

Mullah Jalaludin Haqani:
Mullah Haqani was minister of Frontier Affairs. He was also a Zadran, hailing from Paktia and was aged 55. He led
Islami Movement against President Daud in 1974, then Migrated to Pakistan. His initial education was in Paktia province but then later on shifted to Darul Uloom Haqania where he studdied for six years. He Served as a leading Mujahideen Commander. After withdrawal of Russians, he had captured Khost in 1991. Later on, he joined Taleban Movement in 1995.

Sadiq Akhund:
He served as minister of Commerce. Sadiq Akhund was a Ghilzai Hotak from Qandahar. He had obtained no formal education. He was one of the commanders who were successful in capturing of Mazar in 1997.

Qari Din Muhammad:
Qari Din Muhammad was Minister of Planning and Development. He was a Tajik by ethnicity and hailed from Badakhshan. He was Leading Tajik in the council amongst others.

Maulvi Qalamudin:
Maulvi Qalamudin was head of the Religious Police; the Amar Bil Ma'roof Wa Nahi Anil Munkar. He was aged 38 and belonged to the Ghilzai Mohmand Tribe. He hailed from Bariki Barak in Logar province. His education was completed in Logar and Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak. He also served as secretary to Nabi Muhammadi in Rabbani Government before the Taleban. It was in Zabul that he joined the Taleban forces.

Maulvi Jalilullah Maulvizai:
Served as Attorney General and hailed from Herat. He was aged 68 and was a Khwaja by ethnicity. His education was completed in Darul Uloom Deoband in India. He served as adviser to the Mujahideen Interim Government in 1988 and also as Education Minister under President Barhanudin Rabbani's government.

Muhammad Hassan:
Muhammad Hassan served as Governor of Qandahar. He was an Achakzai and hailed from Urozgan. He was 45 years old at time of his governorship duties. Graduated from Quetta Maddrassa, Muhammad Hassan fought the Russians in Urozgan. It was in the Jehad against russians that he lost one leg and one fingertip.

Mullah Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil:
Mullah Wakil served as personal Secretary to Mullah Muhammad Omar. He also hailed from Qandahar and belonged to the Kakarh Tribe. He also served as spokesman for the Taleban and was well versed in English.

Sher Muhammad Stanakzai:
Sher Muhammad was Deputy Foreign Minister. He was a Stanakzai from Logar province. Before his joining the Taleban, he was a police officer and was trained in India.

Arifullah Arif:
Arifullah Arif was also Deputy Foreign Minister. He belonged to the Suleiman Khel tribe and hailed from Zamrud in Paktia Province. His education could only be completed until 6th grade; after which he joined Darul Uloom Haqqani from where he graduated. Arifullah has also worked for the Jehad movement in Pakistan.