Afghan Biographies

Kabir, Abdul Mawlawi


Name Kabir, Abdul Mawlawi
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth 1963
Function/Grade Interim Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan
History and Biodata

2. Previous Function:
Acting prime minister of Afghanistan ( 20010416 - 20011113)
Second Deputy of the Taliban's Council of Ministers
Governor of Nangarhar Province (1996)
Head of the Eastern Zone
Member of Taliban Neagtiation team (20200913)
Political 3rd Deputy to the Prime Minister (20211005)
Interim Prime Minister of Afghanistan (20230518)
Interim Deputy Prime Minister (20230717)

3. Biodata:
Maulavi Abdul Kabir (aka Mullah Abdul Kabir Osmani) Mullah Kabeer Zadran was born 1963. His family hails from Nika Neka District, Paktika Province and belongs to the Zadran tribe. The district is within the heartland of the Zadran tribe of Pashtuns. Other sources say he was born in the northern Baghlan province.

He was a one-time governor of eastern Afghanistan before the overthrow of the Taliban regime.  The Kabir has been under United Nations sanctions since 2001, when he served as the acting prime minister of the then Taliban regime (1996-2001). He took shelter in Pakistan after the Taliban government was toppled in a US-led invasion in 2001. Mawlawi Abdul Kabir had replaced Anwarul Haq Mujahid in eastern zone which includes Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar and Nooristan. (20071022)

The United Nations Security Council listed Kabir as a sanctioned person in January 2001 for his concurrent roles in the first Taliban regime as the second deputy of economic affairs, member of the council of ministers, governor of the Nangarhar province, and head of the eastern zone.

He was arrested in northwest Pakistan near the home of the insurgency's Peshawar Shura, a council of insurgent advisers second only to the Taliban's ruling Quetta shura. Maulavi Abdul Kabir was detained in Pakistan's northwest Nowshera district. One security official in that area said he was arrested in mid-January 2010, but further circumstances of his arrest were not available at press time. Kabir was positioned at the top of the Peshawar shura.  He described him as being known for his political savviness and smart management skills, who has been critical of the killing of Afghan civilians by Taleban fighters.
 

The Afghan government is hopeful that Pakistan will hand over two Taliban leaders from the east of the country, Mawli Kabir and Mawli Sadrazam, as a show of Pakistan's support for the peace process.(20120130)

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, has been appointed as head of Taliban’s recruitment commission.(20190126)

He has been mentioned as member of the negotiation team in official statements.(20200913)
 

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Kabir has played a crucial role in negotiating with the US leadership during talks in Doha.

Delegates from both sides have held talks in the Qatari capital focusing on security and “terrorism” concerns, the rights of women and girls, as well as evacuations from Afghanistan.

Analysts say his diplomatic acumen and ability to negotiate with countries that are at odds with the Taliban could have been one of the factors behind his below appointment.

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has appointed Mawlawi Abdul Kabir as the new acting Prime Minister of the country, replacing Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund who was unwell for quite some time. Abdul Kabir, who is said to be very close to the Pakistan establishment and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was given the top post by the leader of the Islamic Emirate Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada. (20230518)
 

The incumbent political deputy prime minister, Maulvi Abdul Kabir, has not been attending meetings for almost three months. The political deputy of the prime minister is sick and is currently in Kabul at his residence.

Mujahid said that the political deputy prime minister is ill and Muttaqi will temporarily take over his duties. “Following up on domestic and foreign policy have been entrusted to the minister of foreign affairs, and the head of the political deputy PM’s office should carry out the other work and activities.” Kabir’s last public appearance was on Sept 4, 2023 when he met with the then-Turkish ambassador to Afghanistan.(20231127)

He speaks Pashtu, Urdu and English.
 

 

Last Modified 2023-11-27
Established 2021-10-05