ISLAMABAD: Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada has been confirmedalive, dispelling swirling rumors of his demise following a violentinternal assault. Sources close to the group’s inner circle revealed thatAkhundzada sustained injuries in the attack but remains stable undermedical care in a secure location. The incident, which unfolded recently,underscores deepening fissures within the Taliban’s leadership amid ongoingpower struggles.
The assailant, identified as Akhundzada’s trusted bodyguard, launched thesurprise attack during a private meeting. Eyewitness accounts describe achaotic scene where the bodyguard wielded a concealed weapon, inflictingwounds on the reclusive cleric. Other guards swiftly intervened,neutralizing the threat but failing in their initial attempt to eliminatethe attacker, who survived and is now in custody for interrogation.
Taliban spokespersons have maintained a veil of secrecy, issuing noofficial statements to avoid signaling weakness to rivals. Akhundzada’ssurvival is seen as a pivotal moment, potentially averting a leadershipvacuum that could exacerbate Afghanistan’s instability. Regional analystswarn that such infighting may invite external interference from neighboringstates wary of Taliban governance.
As investigations proceed, the focus shifts to the bodyguard’s motives,with speculation pointing to ideological rifts or foreign-backed plots.Akhundzada, known for his iron-fisted decrees on women’s rights and strictSharia enforcement, continues to direct operations remotely, ensuringcontinuity in the Islamic Emirate’s administration.
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Source:www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/dead-or-alive-on-the-trail-of-taliban-s-supreme-leader-hibatullah-akhundzada-101638499178664.html”>https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250123-hibatullah-akhundzada-afghanistan-s-reclusive-taliban-leader”>https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/dead-or-alive-on-the-trail-of-taliban-s-supreme-leader-hibatullah-akhundzada-101638499178664.htmlwww.france24.com/en/live-news/20250123-hibatullah-akhundzada-afghanistan-s-reclusive-taliban-leader”>https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250123-hibatullah-akhundzada-afghanistan-s-reclusive-taliban-leader