Taliban’s elusive defence minister Mullah Yaqoob makes his first media appearance

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Finally, the elusive defence minister of Taliban regime Mullah Yaqoob made his debut in front of the media in Kabul. The 30-something eldest son of the Taliban founder  Mullah Omar has been essentially a mystery.</p>
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This was his first ever picture where he was seen in an event organised by the Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan hospital in Kabul where he asked investors to invest in the health sector in Afghanistan so that Afghans don't have to go to neighbouring countries for treatment. </p>
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Acting Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob son of Amir Mullah Muhammad Umar Mujahid spoke at an event at the Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan hospital in Kabul. He called on businessmen to invest in the health sector so Afghans have alternatives to going abroad for treatment. <a href="https://t.co/gOnP6Yc7dJ">pic.twitter.com/gOnP6Yc7dJ</a></p>
— محمد نجم الدين حميدى (@StudentOfDeen_1) <a href="https://twitter.com/StudentOfDeen_1/status/1453275099835084814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
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According to Afghan journalists, Yaqoob’s presence was not mentioned in the programme invite received through social media. Instead, he arrived at the venue surrounded by his own heavy security forces.</p>
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For insiders, he was last seen  before the announcement of the interim government of the Taliban. At that time, he was embroiled in differences with the Pakistan supported Haqqani factions led by Sirajuddin Haqqani over  key posts in  government. The bitter feud triggered a bout of shooting between supporters of Mullah Baradar and Khalil-ul- Rahman Haqqani of the Haqqani Network. After sustaining injuries,  Baradar fled to Kandahar with the help of Mullah Yaqoob to save his life. Since then, it is believed that Mullah Yaqoob the military chief of Taliban was staying in Kandahar, a stronghold of Taliban. In the interim government though Yaqoob was made the defence minister but the lion shares went to Haqqanis. The chief of Haqqanis Sirajuddin Haqqani, an arch rival of Yaqoob was made the interior minister and in charge of Kabul.</p>
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As there is no regular Afghan Army as such, the role of defence minister Yaqoob is largely ceremonial as Taliban cadre of fighters are with Haqqani.</p>
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Haqqani belongs to Miramshah or Peshawar Shura of Taliban while Yaqoob is part of the Quetta Shura.</p>
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According to various intelligence sources, Sirajuddin and Yaqoob  are both scared of each other. Sirajuddin avoids going to visit Kandahar, while Yaqoob avoids moving from the city. </p>
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Interestingly Sirajuddin Haqqani, with a US bounty of $ 10 million on his head fears for his life. Unsurprisingly, Haqqani frequently changes his location and keeps his movements secret out of fear that Washington will drone him down. He also thinks that Yaqoob has a secret understanding  with the Americans.</p>
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<strong>Also Read : </strong> <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/fearing-for-his-life-from-a-drone-strike-afghan-interior-minister-sirajuddin-haqqani-had-rushed-to-pakistan-115176.html">Fearing for his life from a drone strike, Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani had rushed to Pakistan</a></p>
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Sirajuddin Haqqani  appeared in a public function last week to facilitate the families of suicide bombers. But unlike Yaqoob, he did not wish to be clearly photographed.</p>
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Given the heavy level of mistrust between the Taliban leaders, governance of the so-far dysfunctional Afghanistan is hardly in focus.</p>