The Taliban Hidden Emir: Haibatullah’s Ascent Through Shadows and Silence

The Taliban, a violent extremist organization responsible for severe harm, loss of life, and human rights violations.

Sheikh Hadith Maulvi Hibatullah Akhundzada, the son of Sheikh Maulvi Muhammad Khan and the grandson of Maulana Khuda Rahim, was born on Friday, October 20, 1967, into a religious family in the village of Nakhoni, Panjwai District, Kandahar Province. Sheikh Hibatullah began his studies in religious sciences under his father, Maulvi Muhammad, learning Qur’anic recitation, jurisprudence, Sarf, syntax, Arabic literature, meanings, and principles of jurisprudence until his middle years. He later received higher Islamic education up to the level of Sheikh from renowned scholars of the region, including Sheikh Al‑Hadith Maulvi Muhammad Jan Agha Sahib and Sheikh Al‑Hadith Maulvi Habibullah Sahib.

After the 1978 coup in Afghanistan, Sheikh Maulvi Muhammad Khan (Haibatullah’s father) became one of the first jihadi scholars in his region to leave Kandahar Province for Registan and then move to Pakistan. Maulvi Muhammad Khan continued his armed resistance with ISI support, but after the direct Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, he was killed. Following the Soviet invasion, Sheikh Haibatullah, like many young Afghans — was forced to leave Afghanistan and migrate to Pakistan. There, he began combat training under Brigadier Yasub Dogar (ISI) at the Forest Pir Ali Zai Camp in the Balochistan border region.