3. Biodata:
Mawlawi Sheikh Habibullah Haqqani was born in Nalgham village in Zherai district, Kandahar Province in 1975. His primary school education was under the guidance of religious scholars but he later studied at madrassas in Pakistan. He returned to Kandahar during former president Mohammad Daud’s government where he then trained many students in religious studies. He also wrote a number of books on religious subjects.
 

Aides close to the Taliban leader confirmed that Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada had himself been a student of Habibullah Haqqani.

Habibullah Haqqani had been a friend of Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the Haqqani Network, during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He was also a key figure in circles close to the Taliban’s founder and former leader Mullah Omar and his successor Mullah Mohammad Mansoor; and he played an active role as an advisor over the years to Mullah Hibatullah. Sources close to him say he enjoys an elevated status within the leadership ranks as he also played a key role in the formation of the group.
 

Habibullah Haqqani has also reportedly called for the full implementation of all Sharia laws – along with other Taliban leaders; and he is known to stand in for Mullah Hibatullah at many important meetings.
 

According to sources, he meets with Mullah Hibatullah once or twice a week at the former provincial council compound in Kandahar and in July 2022, he led an assembly of Taliban religious scholars in Kabul.

According to the Institute for the Study of War and the Critical Threats Project it was this gathering that Mullah Hibatullah leveraged to consolidate power and advance efforts to implement a hardline governance program.

Maulawi Habibullah Haqqani has been touted as the one responsible for leading the Taliban Ulema gathering.(20220630)