TALIBAN’S long-serving terror chief has mysteriously vanished amid claims the tyrant was targeted in deadly airstrikes from Pakistan.
Hibatullah Akhundzada hasn’t been seen or heard from since overnight strikes reportedly as Pakistan declared an “open war”.
Hibatullah Akhundzada is the reclusive leader of the TalibanCredit: Getty
He has overseen a massive crackdown on women’s clothing and has an arrest warrant for enforcing ‘gender apartheid’Credit: EPA
Pakistan’s bombs wiped out at least 264 Taliban militantsCredit: Reuters
The shady leader in , believed to be in his 60s, rarely makes public appearances, has no digital footprint, and is believed to command his henchmen via secret networks.
This allows him to work in the shadows, directing his terrorist brutes on how to carry out attacks and how to lay down the law on civilians.
Even his name strikes fear with Hibatullah in Arabic meaning “gift from God”.
Since taking over as the kingpin in 2016, Akhundzada has overseen some major developments for the group.
Taliban, under his rule, came back to power in Afghanistan in 2021 following the from Kabul.
His low profile keeps him shrouded in mystery – but often sparks speculation and rumours that he is in declining health or dead.
He is believed to reside in Kandahar, but his exact whereabouts are currently unknown.
Former British Army officer General Sir Richard Barrons, who served in Afghanistan, told The Sun: “He’s an extremely influential figure but he’s also secretive, he’s always been secretive and this helps keep him extremely powerful in running a conservative faction.
“The fact that he lives in this isolated way, in many ways, in many eyes, earns him a lot of respect as well as security.”
His whereabouts are always a mystery so any foreign intelligence can’t track him down and make him a target.
Only one image has ever been made public of him too.
This has led many of his supporters saying there is no chance he would have been killed in the Pakistan strikes.
Should he ever die, it remains unclear when the Taliban would announce it to the world.
The terror group have previously hidden the truth over a leader’s death.
Taliban founder Mullah Omar is suspected of staying in power for two entire years after his death, Afghanistan’s government and security services believe.
Akhundzada, a hardline religious scholar, has served as the head of the Taliban since 2016 since moving on from a ruthless Sharia court chief.
His reign of power over the Afghan saw him oversee years of brutal punishments handed out to those breaking Islamic law.
He is believed to have issued rulings which saw convicted murderers and adulterers be publicly executed and thieves have their hands chopped off.
The terror group have previously hidden the truth over a leader’s death with Taliban founder Mullah Omar suspected of staying in power for two entire years after his deathCredit: AFP
Taliban members roam the streets with weapons enforcing Akhundzada’s rulesCredit: AFP
Taliban soldiers load a rocket launcher in a vehicle on FridayCredit: Reuters
One of the most disturbing new laws in Afghanistan was announced earlier this month.
The Taliban has officially in a terrifying new assault on women’s rights.
A 90-page criminal code was signed off which allows husbands to physically abuse their wives and children – so long as it does not result in “broken bones or open wounds”.
Afghanistan is “a pure patriarchy” with its values forced onto people through Akhundzada’s Taliban, Sir Barrons says.
He added: “For many Western people, this is outrageous, but the point is it’s not outrageous to many Afghans.
“One of the reasons Akhundzada is powerful is that they actually genuinely support what he does.
“He commands widespread support amongst the Taliban men and women.
“He is this unpronounceable leader, he is really clear about how life should be led in Afghanistan and it is this strict interpretation of Sharia law.
“The role of women in society and all of those things, there is no bending him on this.”
Rumours of Akhundzada going missing came after tit-for-tat strikes between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Thursday.
Kabul was rocked by “deadly” blitzes overnight after the Taliban attacked border troops hours earlier.
‘s Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said 274 Taliban regime members and terrorists were killed with 12 Pakistani troops lost in the operation.
Yet Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed his forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured others.
He said that just 13 Afghan troops had been killed.
The cross border fighting has now escalated with Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif declaring: “Our cup of patience has overflowed.
“Now it is open war between us and you.”
Wounded women at a hospital in Afghanistan after the attacksCredit: AFP
A Pakistani army tank stands at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman on February 27Credit: AFP
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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