Abdur Razzaq Akhundzada
Afghan politician
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Mullah Abdur Razzaq Akhundzada (born 1958) is a Pashtun politician who served as the Interior Minister of Afghanistan in 2001.[1] He served as the governor of Herat in 1997[2] and is believed to be a member of the Taliban leadership. He is rumoured to belong to the Achakzai tribe, from a family of Jalaludin village, Spin Boldak District, Kandahar Province; it is also claimed that he is in fact not an Afghan, but is a Pakistani national.[3]
Abdur Razzaq Akhundzada عبدالرزاق آخوندزاده | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 (age 67–68) |
| Occupations | Politician, Taliban member |
| Known for | Quetta Shura Member |
| Predecessor | Khairullah Khairkhwa |
| Successor | Yunus Qanuni |
Abdul Razzaq traveled to Pakistan in mid-May 2000 to discuss the extradition of criminals, terrorism, drug trafficking and the Afghanistan–Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.[4] Pakistan demanded the closure of 18 Afghan training camps, where Pakistani militants were believed to be receiving training.
Razzaq was captured in an uprising in Mazar-i-Sharif[clarification needed] but later escaped.[2]
The British paper The Scotsman reported that Razzaq was a founding member of the Taliban; that he headed the Taliban's customs department; and was later interior minister. The article further alleged that Razzaq was the number two in a then new Taliban military command structure.[5]
