Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, a founding figure among the Taliban's original 30 members, has served as a member of the Taliban Leadership Council. As a close confidant and advisor to the late Taliban founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar, Mullah Hassan Akhund's influence in the group has been longstanding and s known for his uncompromising religious stance. Born in the late 1940s, his ties with Pakistan have been significant, but his reputation within the Taliban circles is marked by being considered "one of the most ineffective and unreasonable leaders." His reported short temper and erratic behavior further underline his uncompromising nature. In the past, his involvement in the fight against the Soviets includes his participation in the Hezb-e-Islami (Khalis) group and his endorsement of the destruction of the Bamyan Buddhas. Between 1996 and 2001, Hassan Akhund held key roles in the Taliban regime, including first deputy of the Council of Ministers, foreign minister, and governor of Kandahar province. According to public reports, his tenure as foreign minister was marred by an incident in March 1998 when he physically assaulted a UN employee during a meeting and threw a teapot at him. This incident led to the withdrawal of UN expatriate staff from Kandahar. Hassan Akhund's most notable stand came after the August 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. Despite mounting pressure, he was among the senior Taliban leaders who refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, stating "We will never give up Osama at any price." On May 17, 2023, he temporarily stepped down from his role as acting prime minister due to illness, with his duties entrusted to another deputy prime minister, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir. He later returned to resume his role as acting prime minister. The Council of Ministers is the Taliban government's highest executive and administrative body. It consists of the prime Minister, his three deputies, the cabinet, and the state ministers who collectively oversee the work of the government institutions as well as the execution of the Taliban's laws and regulations. Born in the mid-1950s, Mullah Hassan Akhund is among the Taliban leaders sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council under the designation TAi.002.
