418:. Robertson described the man as close to 30 years old, bearded, and slightly over 6 feet (1.83 m) tall. After the CNN interview was broadcast in May 2009, the Zabiullah Mujahid that journalists had been speaking to via cellphone claimed that the interviewee was an impostor. One intelligence analyst said that the man interviewed by CNN was one of multiple individuals using the persona, but that the man was disowned because his superiors were unhappy with the interview. The analyst said, "There's no way Zabiullah Mujahid could be one person... No one person could take that many calls from the media."
209:
1033:
455:, published on 12 September 2021, Mujahid states that "They used to think I did not exist." He then says "I escaped so many times from their raids and attempts to capture me that they seriously considered that ‘Zabiullah’ was a made up figure, not a real man who exists", referring to his evasion of being captured.
371:
crossing from
Pakistan. As a Taliban spokesman, Mujahid communicated the group's message to Afghan and international media. He has been responsible for confirming or denying group's involvement in attacks across Afghanistan. He has also released videos on his Twitter account showing the Taliban's
300:
Mujahid appeared publicly in person on 17 August 2021. Prior to that, he regularly communicated with journalists and spoke on behalf of the
Taliban via cellphone calls, text messages, emails, Twitter, and postings on Islamist websites. Mujahid was appointed in January 2007 following the arrest of
406:
As of 2011, the US military claimed that
Mujahid was not a single individual, but a persona by that name that was used by multiple Taliban spokespeople. However, some journalists said that they recognized his voice and that they had been communicating with the same individual for several years.
500:, where Akhundzada resides. Akhundzada has been relocating officials closer to himself in order to tighten his grip on power. Mujahid said his move was a pragmatic decision to allow him to more easily report on Akhundzada's activities, and denied the move is reflective of a power shift.
635:
398:, who was killed in a clash between Afghan forces and Taliban. Mujahid claimed the Taliban were not aware of how Siddiqui died, asking journalists to inform the Taliban before entering war zone so that the group can "take proper care of that particular individual".
568:
480:
due to collapsed economy and broken banking system. Zabihullah
Mujahid told CBS News that "On the one hand they say a million children will die, but on the other, the U.S. are holding our money. The U.S. should release our money so we can save more children."
38:
814:
596:
699:
383:(NDS) that killed over 100 security personnel. On 29 November 2020, Mujahid claimed responsibility for an attack on army base in Afghanistan that killed 30 security personnel.
826:
293:, while Ahmadi focused on the western and southern regions. In addition to being the government's main spokesman, Mujahid serves as a personal spokesman for Supreme Leader
278:
52:
973:
80:
724:
360:
302:
1121:
607:
784:
379:
that killed more than 140 soldiers. On 21 January 2019, Mujahid claimed
Taliban responsibility for an attack on training centre of the
670:
872:
882:
458:
Western nations suspended humanitarian aid to
Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the country in August 2021 and the
380:
364:
1015:
1057:
1111:
274:
92:
1052:
463:
603:
116:
470:, blocking the Taliban from accessing billions of dollars held in U.S. bank accounts. On 11 November 2021, the
1116:
1106:
489:
On 7 September 2021, Mujahid was appointed Deputy
Minister of Information and Culture in the newly formed
281:
since 7 September 2021. He has long served as one of several spokesmen for the
Taliban, the others being
438:, Afghanistan, where he answered questions of local and international media teams. He is fluent in both
294:
85:
799:
1101:
539:
427:
326:
273:
spokesperson who has been the chief spokesman for the internationally unrecognized
Taliban regime of
108:
752:
645:
467:
451:
149:
947:
747:
466:
also halted payments. The Biden administration froze about $ 9 billion in assets belonging to the
410:
A man claiming to be
Mujahid was interviewed with his back towards the TV camera in early 2009 by
994:
843:
515:
490:
472:
431:
330:
348:
for a Taliban magazine before serving as an anchor for a Taliban radio in both Pashto and Dari.
925:
640:
153:
827:'We are sorry': Taliban denies role in photojournalist Danish Siddiqui's death, says report
995:"Afghanistan Facing Famine: UN, World Bank, US Should Adjust Sanctions, Economic Policies"
509:
426:
Mujahid first appeared publicly and showed his face on 17 August 2021, two days after the
395:
375:
On 21 April 2017, Mujahid claimed Taliban responsibility for an attack on an army base in
318:
314:
261:
247:
192:
188:
289:. Mujahid commented mainly on the Taliban's activities in eastern, northern, and central
700:"Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid vows they 'will not harm or threaten Afghanistan'"
1053:"Southern Afghan City Becomes De Facto Capital As Taliban Chief Tightens Grip On Power"
376:
282:
1095:
868:
415:
391:
359:
Mujahid became the Taliban group's spokesman in January 2007 following the arrest of
286:
496:
In April 2023, Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada relocated Mujahid from Kabul to
443:
157:
97:
37:
290:
208:
196:
903:
459:
725:"Taliban say they want peace, will respect women's rights under Islamic law"
231:
125:
974:"'Countdown to catastrophe': half of Afghans face hunger this winter – UN"
582:
497:
334:
1086:
1016:"Taliban blames U.S. as 1 million Afghan kids face death by starvation"
767:
387:
368:
322:
270:
213:
477:
439:
351:
He is married with four children. His mother died in October 2021.
904:"Afghanistan: Mysterious Taliban spokesman finally shows his face"
435:
671:"Taliban spokesman says U.S. will not be harmed from Afghan soil"
844:"One Voice or Many for the Taliban, but Pegged to a Single Name"
719:
717:
345:
344:
He began fighting at the age of 16 and later became a writer in
338:
1082:
877:
411:
694:
692:
341:, writing different research papers in the field as well.
1034:"Is the United States Driving Afghanistan Toward Famine?"
636:"Key Taliban spokesman moved from Kabul to southern city"
785:
Taliban kill more than 140 Afghan soldiers at army base
1051:
Ikramullah Ikram; Abubakar Siddique (18 April 2023).
800:
Taliban attack on Afghan security base kills over 100
430:, at the Taliban's first press conference along with
386:
On 17 July 2021, Mujahid apologized for the death of
18:
Deputy Information Minister of Afghanistan since 2021
948:"'They thought I was a ghost' | The Express Tribune"
583:"Taliban Announces Head of State, Acting Ministers"
227:
219:
202:
172:
167:
145:
114:
104:
91:
79:
51:
23:
518:– IEA Spokesperson for Minister of Foreign Affairs
325:from different cities of Afghanistan as well the
485:In the Islamic Emirate government (2021-present)
873:"Afghan Taliban spokesman: We will win the war"
569:"ذبیح الله مجاهد او درې مرستیالان یې معرفي شول"
476:reported that Afghanistan is facing widespread
837:
835:
1010:
1008:
989:
987:
665:
663:
597:Taliban Propaganda: Winning the War of Words?
8:
928:. Public Radio International. 17 August 2021
815:Car bombing at Afghan base kills at least 30
768:"Afghans Detain Purported Taliban Spokesman"
746:Yousafzai, Shahabullah (12 September 2021).
630:
628:
546:. Al Jazeera Media Network. 20 January 2007
606:. 24 July 2008. p. 42. Archived from
279:Deputy Minister of Information and Culture
252:
53:Deputy Minister of Information and Culture
36:
20:
534:
532:
528:
727:. The Express Tribune. 17 August 2021
493:made up entirely of Taliban members.
321:, he received his early education in
260:
7:
563:
561:
817:, 29 November 2020, Washington Post
251:
372:activity throughout the conflict.
14:
1083:Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م )
883:Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
381:National Directorate of Security
365:National Directorate of Security
277:since 25 October 2021 and their
207:
1058:Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
829:, 17 July 2021, Hindustan Times
158:Maulvi Asadullah (Bilal Karimi)
748:"´They thought I was a ghost´"
402:Contested identity before 2021
275:Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
117:Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
1:
842:Norland, Rod (14 June 2011).
367:(NDS), on the border town of
262:[zabihʊˈlɑmʊd͡ʒaˈhɪd]
848:International New York Times
772:Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty
540:"Taliban spokesman arrested"
1122:Darul Uloom Haqqania alumni
702:. USA Today. 17 August 2021
464:International Monetary Fund
1138:
906:. BBC News. 18 August 2021
604:International Crisis Group
512:– another IEA spokesperson
337:, where he specialized in
237:
163:
133:
122:
67:
58:
47:
35:
30:
926:"Media matters: Part I"
602:(Report). Asia Report.
1112:Taliban spokespersons
449:In an interview with
339:Islamic jurisprudence
309:Early life and family
295:Hibatullah Akhundzada
86:Hibatullah Akhundzada
468:Afghan central banks
327:Darul Uloom Haqqania
313:Born in 1978 in the
267:Dhabih Allah Mujahid
109:Khairullah Khairkhwa
1001:. 11 November 2021.
954:. 12 September 2021
802:, 21 January 2019,
753:The Express Tribune
646:Islamabad, Pakistan
452:The Express Tribune
150:Inamullah Samangani
25:Zabihullah Mujahid
1040:. 29 October 2021.
1038:The New York Times
1022:. 20 October 2021.
999:Human Rights Watch
980:. 25 October 2021.
571:. 25 October 2021.
516:Abdul Qahar Balkhi
491:interim government
473:Human Rights Watch
432:Abdul Qahar Balkhi
331:Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
323:Islamic seminaries
301:Taliban spokesman
258:Ẕabīḥullāh Mujāhid
244:Zabihullah Mujahid
787:, 22 April 2017,
355:Taliban spokesman
241:
240:
115:Spokesman of the
1129:
1070:
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1042:
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677:. 17 August 2021
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641:Associated Press
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183:February 7, 1978
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168:Personal details
154:Ahmadullah Wasiq
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75:7 September 2021
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21:
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613:on 4 March 2016
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510:Tariq Ghazniwal
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396:Danish Siddiqui
357:
319:Paktia province
315:Gardez District
311:
265:; also spelled
253:ذبیح الله مجاهد
206:
203:Political party
193:Paktia Province
189:Gardez District
187:
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178:
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156:
152:
141:25 October 2021
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68:
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42:Mujahid in 2021
31:ذبيح الله مجاهد
26:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1135:
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1125:
1124:
1119:
1117:Pashtun people
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1109:
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1077:External links
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1025:
1004:
983:
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952:tribune.com.pk
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895:
871:(5 May 2009).
869:Robertson, Nic
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648:. 6 April 2023
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361:Muhammad Hanif
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303:Muhammad Hanif
283:Suhail Shaheen
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447:
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429:
428:fall of Kabul
422:Public reveal
421:
419:
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416:Nic Robertson
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287:Yousef Ahmadi
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185:(age 46)
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1062:. Retrieved
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1037:
1028:
1019:
998:
978:The Guardian
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958:13 September
956:. Retrieved
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942:
930:. Retrieved
920:
908:. Retrieved
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851:. Retrieved
847:
822:
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789:The Guardian
788:
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771:
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741:
729:. Retrieved
704:. Retrieved
679:. Retrieved
674:
650:. Retrieved
639:
615:. Retrieved
608:the original
591:
577:
548:. Retrieved
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495:
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448:
444:Dari Persian
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405:
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135:
124:
98:Hasan Akhund
69:
60:
15:
1102:1978 births
853:28 November
550:28 November
446:languages.
394:journalist
291:Afghanistan
197:Afghanistan
1096:Categories
886:Retrieved
544:Al Jazeera
523:References
460:World Bank
228:Occupation
179:1978-02-07
932:17 August
910:18 August
731:17 August
706:17 August
681:20 August
414:reporter
232:Spokesman
126:Incumbent
1020:CBS News
888:21 April
675:NBC News
617:21 April
504:See also
498:Kandahar
335:Pakistan
269:) is an
220:Children
105:Minister
100:(acting)
1087:Twitter
804:Reuters
388:Reuters
369:Torkham
363:by the
214:Taliban
1064:11 May
652:11 May
478:famine
440:Pashto
392:Indian
271:Afghan
248:Pashto
146:Deputy
61:Acting
611:(PDF)
600:(PDF)
436:Kabul
139:
73:
1066:2023
960:2021
934:2021
912:2021
890:2019
855:2015
733:2021
708:2021
683:2021
654:2023
619:2019
552:2015
462:and
442:and
346:Dari
285:and
173:Born
1085:on
878:CNN
434:in
412:CNN
329:in
317:of
1098::
1055:.
1036:.
1018:.
1007:^
997:.
986:^
976:.
950:.
881:.
875:.
846:.
834:^
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750:.
716:^
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673:.
662:^
644:.
638:.
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560:^
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531:^
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333:,
305:.
297:.
256:;
250::
195:,
191:,
181:)
1068:.
962:.
936:.
914:.
892:.
857:.
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756:.
735:.
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685:.
656:.
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585:.
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246:(
223:5
177:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
