Sheikh Zar Mohammad Haqqani assumed the position of Deputy Minister of Hajj (Pilgrimage) and Religious Affairs in April 2023. Before this role, he served as the deputy governor of Nuristan province from February 24, 2022 to April 6, 2023. Previously known for his role as a Taliban commander in eastern Nuristan province, Sheikh Zar Mohammad reportedly maintained close connections with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, as well as al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Within the Taliban's hierarchy, he is a close associate of Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
