The Taliban’s reclusive supreme leader made a rare public appearance today, an Afghan government spokesman said, berating the international community in a speech for criticising his rule.
Hibatullah Akhundzada has made only a handful of public appearances since inheriting the leadership of the Taliban in 2016 and leading the movement back to power with the withdrawal of US forces in 2021.
Over the past three years the bearded ‘Emir’ of the Taliban has ruled by decree, enforcing an austere vision of Islam largely ostracising Afghanistan.
In a 35-minute audio address, released by a Taliban government spokesman, Akhundzada said countries involved in the US-led invasion were still attacking Afghanistan with ‘propaganda’ and ‘evil tactics’.
‘Today, they want to divide you,’ he said, according to the audio address. ‘They blame the leaders as defective, saying they are not able to govern.’
‘Don’t let these infidels mislead you,’ he added. ‘Stay alert for them, they will trick you, they want to fail you.’
‘I will not take even a step away from the Islamic law,’ he pledged.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Akhundzada’s address marking the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in the largest mosque of southern Kandahar province ‘was attended by thousands of compatriots’.
An AFP source who attended the service said Akhundzada was not visible to large crowds in the courtyard of the complex, but a voice over a loudspeaker introduced the sermon as his words.
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