Qatar Foreign Minister meets Taliban leaders, Mullah Baradar missing from the meet -

Kabul: On Monday morning, it was reported that Mullah Baradar, a key leader of the Taliban, since its inception, was killed. He was not present when Al Thani, Qatar’s foreign minister, met with Taliban leaders. This reinforces the claim that Baradar was killed in the conflict in the Taliban. But in the next few hours, the Taliban released an audio of Mullah Baradar. In it, Baradar conveyed the message that he was alive and that there were no differences within the Taliban. But analysts are pointing out that Baradar was not seen at the meeting with Qatar’s foreign minister.

Mullah Baradar is considered the second most powerful leader in the Taliban. After the Taliban launched a movement to form a government in Afghanistan, the Gulf media reported that Baradar would be the next president of Afghanistan. But the Taliban postponed the announcement of the formation of the government following a surprise visit to Kabul last week by Faiz Hameed, head of Pakistan’s ISI.

Hameed was pushing for the power to be in the hands of the Haqqani network in the Afghan government. The Haqqani network, which is based in Pakistan, is claimed to be under the control of the Pakistani security apparatus. There were reports of clashes between the Baradar and Haqqani factions overpower. It was said that Mullah Baradar and his colleagues were seriously injured in the conflict. The Taliban did not respond to a request for comment. But in the last few days, Baradar has been missing.

Last week, to everyone’s surprise, the Taliban announced a new government and appointed Baradar as deputy prime minister. On Monday morning, local Afghan journalists claimed that Mullah Baradar had been killed. The news had caused a stir in Pakistan as well as Afghanistan. It was claimed on social media that news of a power struggle between the Baradar and Haqqani groups had gained momentum since last week.

Meanwhile, news and photographs surfaced of Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani meeting with a delegation of Taliban and Afghan leaders. Among them is former President Hamid Karzai, other senior Taliban leaders and Dr Abdullah Abdullah. But the name of Mullah Baradar was not mentioned. This has raised suspicions that Baradar was killed in the fighting within the Taliban.

In the next few hours, the Taliban released Baradar’s audio message. In it, Baradar says he is alive and on tour. ‘The media is giving false news, and there are no differences within the Taliban,’ Baradar said. But was it the same voice? It could not be clarified. Why didn’t the Taliban release a video of Mullah Baradar if it wanted to put the issue to rest? This question has been raised by some.