The Taliban has appointed Maulvi Abdul Kabir as the new acting prime minister of Afghanstan.
The Taliban has appointed Maulvi Abdul Kabir as the new acting prime minister of Afghanstan.
The Taliban has appointed Maulvi Abdul Kabir as the new acting prime minister of Afghanstan.
The Taliban has appointed Maulvi Abdul Kabir as the new acting prime minister of Afghanstan.

World

Taliban's cabinet reshuffle an attempt to consolidate power, analysts say

Hasan Akhund's replacement as prime minister is thought to be a warning to the Haqqani Network

Ruchi Kumar

May 22, 2023

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The Taliban has carried out the first major cabinet reshuffle since retaking Afghanistan to consolidate power in a fractured movement and weaken the once-feared Haqqani Network, intelligence sources have told The National.

The group downplayed this week’s appointment of Maulvi Abdul Kabir as acting prime minister “in order to ensure there are no obstacles and delays in the affairs of the administration”, after they said leader Hasan Akhund, 78, would be taking time off to “rest due to an illness”.

While the announcement was portrayed as a simple bureaucratic move, Mr Kabir is a powerful force in the administration.

Believed to be in his early 60s, he was the last prime minister of Afghanistan before the fall of the Taliban regime as the US invaded in 200 and he played a key role in the Doha talks with the US about their withdrawal. He is understood to have considerable influence with the Taliban’s supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada.

He is also linked to several terrorist attacks, including the 2007 attack on the Afghan parliament that killed 50 people, including five MPs. He is under UN sanctions and reportedly has ties to Afghanistan’s lucrative drug trade.

“The promotion is a reward for his loyalty to Haibatullah,” said one former security official. “We should expect to see more such appointments where those obedient to Haibatullah are rewarded.”

“Haibatullah Akhundzada has gone with [Mr Kabir], who was part of the Taliban during Mullah Omar’s time in the late 1990s up until 2001,” said Kabir Taneja, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.

“This way, Akhundzada is keeping both intra-tribal issues in check and also protecting power by not allowing the ‘newer’ power brokers in Kabul,” he added.

Security officers guard a road leading to a counter-terrorism centre in Bannu, a district in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. AP Photo
Security officers guard a road leading to a counter-terrorism centre in Bannu, a district in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. AP Photo
Pakistan's Taliban commander Latif Mehsud, centre, a close aide to the former chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hakimullah Mehsud, sits on an armed vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. AFP
Pakistan's Taliban commander Latif Mehsud, centre, a close aide to the former chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hakimullah Mehsud, sits on an armed vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. AFP
Officers stand guard along a road they blocked after Taliban militants seized a police station in Bannu. AFP
Officers stand guard along a road they blocked after Taliban militants seized a police station in Bannu. AFP
Soldiers drive towards North Waziristan from Bannu at the start of an offensive against Pakistani Taliban militants in the restive ethnic Pashtun tribal region. Reuters
Soldiers drive towards North Waziristan from Bannu at the start of an offensive against Pakistani Taliban militants in the restive ethnic Pashtun tribal region. Reuters
People take part in a protest a day after an attack on a school bus in Mingora, in the Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. AFP
People take part in a protest a day after an attack on a school bus in Mingora, in the Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. AFP
Security officials and relatives attend a funeral ceremony of a slain policeman who was killed in an attack claimed by the TTP in the border town of Chaman. AFP
Security officials and relatives attend a funeral ceremony of a slain policeman who was killed in an attack claimed by the TTP in the border town of Chaman. AFP
Pakistani security officials check identity cards at a roadside check point in Karachi. EPA
Pakistani security officials check identity cards at a roadside check point in Karachi. EPA
Pakistani security officials in Karachi. EPA
Pakistani security officials in Karachi. EPA
A Pakistani security official in Karachi. EPA
A Pakistani security official in Karachi. EPA
Surrendered Taliban militants at a Pakistani military compound in Swat valley on August 20, 2009. AFP
Surrendered Taliban militants at a Pakistani military compound in Swat valley on August 20, 2009. AFP
Pakistani security officials at the site of a bomb blast in Jandol town, 100km from the once Taliban-infested Swat Valley on September 16, 2012. AFP
Pakistani security officials at the site of a bomb blast in Jandol town, 100km from the once Taliban-infested Swat Valley on September 16, 2012. AFP
Armed Pakistani militiamen gather in the former Taliban stronghold area of Puchar in Swat valley on September 14, 2009. AFP
Armed Pakistani militiamen gather in the former Taliban stronghold area of Puchar in Swat valley on September 14, 2009. AFP
Internally displaced Pakistani civilians pray before breaking their fast during Ramadan in Bannu, northern Pakistan, on July 6, 2014. AFP
Internally displaced Pakistani civilians pray before breaking their fast during Ramadan in Bannu, northern Pakistan, on July 6, 2014. AFP
Ayesha Abdul Jalil, 16, speaks at a tribute to Malala Yousufzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in the Swat valley, at the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Razan Alzayani / The National
Ayesha Abdul Jalil, 16, speaks at a tribute to Malala Yousufzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in the Swat valley, at the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Razan Alzayani / The National

Rahmatullah Nabil, a former Afghan spy chief, said the decision was a definitive move to not only reinforce control but also quell any future conflict.

“The decision of selecting a successor to Mullah Hasan seems both definitive and intricate as it aims to reduce competition among other Taliban leaders for the position that will be vacant after [Mr Akhund’s] departure,” he told The National.

“It is also a soft signal to [first deputy prime pinister] Mullah Baradar and [defence minister] Mullah Yaqoob that they are not as powerful within the Taliban movement,” he said.

However, Mr Kabir’s appointment is also indicative of fracturing fault lines within the Taliban, the analysts said.

“It showcases Akhundzada’s own paranoia and mistrust with regard to the many power centres in Kabul that are, by most accounts, frustrated by his doggedness on issues such as girls' education and other points of ideological friction,” Mr Taneja said.

"Kabir being appointed as a stand-in for the Prime Minister, instead of Mullah Baradar, who is the first deputy, gives a glimpse of how the divisions are set up within the Taliban,” he said.

Most significantly, though, Mr Kabir’s appointment is thought to be an attempt to weaken the influence of the Haqqani family, which shares power with them in the current government of Afghanistan.

Hospital security guards carry a student injured in the shootout at a school under attacked by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar, Pakistan on Tuesday. Taliban gunmen stormed a military school in the northwestern Pakistani city, killing and wounding dozens, officials said, in the latest militant violence to hit the already troubled region. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
Hospital security guards carry a student injured in the shootout at a school under attacked by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar, Pakistan on Tuesday. Taliban gunmen stormed a military school in the northwestern Pakistani city, killing and wounding dozens, officials said, in the latest militant violence to hit the already troubled region. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
Pakistani soldiers transport rescued school children from the site of an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar. A Majeed / AFP Photo
Pakistani soldiers transport rescued school children from the site of an attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar. A Majeed / AFP Photo
A school boy who was injured in a Taliban attack receives medical treatment at a hospital in Peshawar. Arshad Arbab / EPA
A school boy who was injured in a Taliban attack receives medical treatment at a hospital in Peshawar. Arshad Arbab / EPA
A Pakistani army soldier takes position on a bunker close to a school under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
A Pakistani army soldier takes position on a bunker close to a school under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
A schoolboy who was injured in a Taliban attack receives medical treatment at a hospital in Peshawar. Arshad Arbab / EPA
A schoolboy who was injured in a Taliban attack receives medical treatment at a hospital in Peshawar. Arshad Arbab / EPA
Pakistani security forces take up positions on a road leading to the Army Public School that is under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Taliban gunmen in Pakistan took hundreds of students and teachers hostage on Tuesday in a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar, military officials said. Khuram Parvez / Reuters
Pakistani security forces take up positions on a road leading to the Army Public School that is under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Taliban gunmen in Pakistan took hundreds of students and teachers hostage on Tuesday in a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar, military officials said. Khuram Parvez / Reuters
Taliban gunmen in Pakistan took hundreds of students and teachers hostage on Tuesday in a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar, military officials said. Khuram Parvez / Reuters
Taliban gunmen in Pakistan took hundreds of students and teachers hostage on Tuesday in a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar, military officials said. Khuram Parvez / Reuters
A soldier escorts schoolchildren after they were rescued from the Army Public School that is under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Khuram Parvez / Reuters
A soldier escorts schoolchildren after they were rescued from the Army Public School that is under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Khuram Parvez / Reuters
Pakistani rescue workers take out students from an ambulance who were injured in the shootout at a school under attack by Taliban gunmen, upon arrival at a local hospital in Peshawar. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
Pakistani rescue workers take out students from an ambulance who were injured in the shootout at a school under attack by Taliban gunmen, upon arrival at a local hospital in Peshawar. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
Pakistani army troops arrive to conduct an operation at a school under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Taliban gunmen stormed a military school in the northwestern Pakistani city, killing and wounding dozens, officials said, in the latest militant violence to hit the already troubled region. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
Pakistani army troops arrive to conduct an operation at a school under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar. Taliban gunmen stormed a military school in the northwestern Pakistani city, killing and wounding dozens, officials said, in the latest militant violence to hit the already troubled region. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
A Pakistani soldier stands near the debris of a house which was destroyed during a military operation against Taliban militants in the town of Miranshah in North Waziristan in this July 9, 2014 file photo. “It’s a revenge attack for the army offensive in North Waziristan,” Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani told Reuters following the attack at a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday. Maqsood Mehdi / Reuters
A Pakistani soldier stands near the debris of a house which was destroyed during a military operation against Taliban militants in the town of Miranshah in North Waziristan in this July 9, 2014 file photo. “It’s a revenge attack for the army offensive in North Waziristan,” Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani told Reuters following the attack at a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday. Maqsood Mehdi / Reuters
Pakistani volunteers carry a student injured in the shootout at a school under attack by Taliban gunmen, at a local hospital in Peshawar. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
Pakistani volunteers carry a student injured in the shootout at a school under attack by Taliban gunmen, at a local hospital in Peshawar. Mohammad Sajjad / AP Photo
A Pakistani girl, who was injured in a Taliban attack in a school, is rushed to a hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. Taliban gunmen stormed a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday, killing and wounding scores, officials said, in the highest-profile militant attack to hit the troubled region in months.(AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)
A Pakistani girl, who was injured in a Taliban attack in a school, is rushed to a hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. Taliban gunmen stormed a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday, killing and wounding scores, officials said, in the highest-profile militant attack to hit the troubled region in months.(AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

There have been reports of a growing rift between the Taliban’s supreme leader and the Haqqani network, which was founded in the 1970s and was one of the most powerful and feared groups in the Afghan insurgency. It gave the Taliban critical support during the long insurgency against the US.

In a gathering to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the Taliban’s founder Mullah Omar last week, Sirajuddin Haqqani alluded to the reshuffle within the Taliban’s government.

“We should not monopolise the government and make it small so that only individuals from our religious seminaries see themselves involved in it. Everyone is part of this government,” he said.

Mr Kabir is from the Paktia province and belongs to the Zadran tribe, like the Haqqani family, and as such his appointment is considered to be a move to weaken their influence in the region.

“It not only aims to appease the Loy Paktia [the greater eastern region] by choosing a second-in-command from that region, but also undermines Siraj who does not enjoy a friendly relationship with Kandahar, nor with Kabir,” Mr Nabil said, referring to Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is the Interior Minister in the Taliban government and the leader of the Haqqani Network.

“This appointment could also pave the way for the replacement of the Haqqanis,” Mr Nabil suggested.

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

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Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

Key facilities
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Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman
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Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula
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• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

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How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

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'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
While you're here
While you're here
The Bio

Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride

She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.

Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years

Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves

She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in

While you're here
MATCH INFO

Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)

Manchester United 0

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India  1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps

HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

Buy farm-fresh food

The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.

In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others. 

In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food. 

In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra. 

RESULT

Bayern Munich 5 Eintrracht Frankfurt 2
Bayern: Goretzka (17'), Müller (41'), Lewandowski (46'), Davies (61'), Hinteregger (74' og)    
Frankfurt: Hinteregger (52', 55')

Transgender report
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Updated: May 22, 2023, 4:37 AM`
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