Supreme Leader of Afghanistan

The office was established by Mullah Mohammed Omar, who founded both the Taliban and the original Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the 1990s. On 4 April 1996, in Kandahar, followers of Omar bestowed upon him the title Amir al-Mu'minin (أمير المؤمنين), meaning "Commander of the Faithful", as Omar had held a cloak taken from its shrine in the city, asserted to be that of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Taliban seized control of Kabul on 27 September 1996, ousting President Burhanuddin Rabbani and installing Omar as the country's head of state. The Taliban views the Quran as its constitution. However, it approved a dastur, a document akin to a basic law, in 1998, which proclaimed Omar supreme leader but did not outline a succession process. In 1996 interview, Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil stated that the Amir al-Mu'minin is "only for Afghanistan", rather than a caliph claiming leadership of all Muslims worldwide. Following the September 11 attacks and the United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Omar was deposed and went into hiding in Zabul Province, and the presidency was restored as Afghanistan's head of state. The Taliban reorganised for an insurgency in 2002, based out of Pakistan. They continued to claim Omar as their supreme leader, though he had little involvement in the insurgency, having turned over operational control to his deputies. Though the Taliban continued to maintain the office of the supreme leader in exile, it had no diplomatic recognition. Following its offensive in 2021, the Taliban recaptured Kabul on 15 August and restored the supreme leader as Afghanistan's head of state. == Selection ==

The supreme leader is appointed by the Leadership Council. == Powers and duties ==

Under Omar, the leader held absolute power, and the Taliban's interpretation of Sharia was entirely his decision. Under the 1998 draft constitution of the first Islamic Emirate, the Leader of the Faithful would appoint justices of the Supreme Court. Under the current government, however, the Emir has final authority on political appointments, as well as political, religious, and military affairs. The Emir carries out much of his work through the Rabbari Shura, or the Leadership Council (which he chairs), based in Kandahar, which oversees the work of the Cabinet, and appointment of individuals to key posts within the cabinet. However, in a report from Al Jazeera, the Cabinet has no authority, with all decisions being made confidentially by Akhundzada and the Leadership Council. The supreme leader receives the highest government salary in the reinstated Islamic Emirate, at monthly. == List of Taliban supreme leaders ==

;Status Timeline == Deputy leaders ==

• Sirajuddin Haqqani (First)Mullah Yaqoob (Second)since 15 August 2021Insurgency deputy leaders:25 May 2016 – 15 August 2021 • Abdul Ghani Baradar (Third)since 15 August 2021Insurgency deputy leader:24 January 2019 – 15 August 2021 }} }} The deputy leader of Afghanistan, officially the deputy leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (, ), is the deputy emir of the Taliban, tasked with assisting the supreme leader with his duties. Akhundzada has three deputies: Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mullah Yaqoob, and Abdul Ghani Baradar. Haqqani was first appointed as a deputy leader by Akhtar Mansour in 2015, and was retained by Akhundzada. Upon assuming office in 2016, Akhundzada appointed Yaqoob, a son of Mullah Omar, as a second deputy. Akhundzada appointed Baradar as a third deputy in 2019. Since the 2021 return of power to the Taliban, Akhundzada has grown more isolated and he has primarily communicated through his three deputies rather than holding meetings with other Taliban leaders. The deputies' exclusive access to Akhundzada has grown their power. == See also ==