Hasan Akhund
Prime Minister of Afghanistan since 2021
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Muhammad Hasan Akhund Kakar[c] (born c. 1945–1958) is an Afghan politician and cleric who has been serving as the 27th prime minister of Afghanistan since 2025, having previously served in this role on an interim basis from 2021. A member of the Taliban, he has been a member of the Leadership Council since 2002, and previously served as deputy prime minister from 1996 to 2001, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 1999.
Abdul Kabir (acting)
Hasan Akhund | |
|---|---|
حسن آخوند | |
Akhund in 2022 | |
| 27th Prime Minister of Afghanistan | |
| Assumed office 7 September 2021[a][b] | |
| Supreme Leader | Hibatullah Akhundzada |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Office re-established; Abdul Kabir (acting, 2001) |
| Member of the Leadership Council | |
| Assumed office 15 August 2021 | |
| In exile May 2002[3] – 15 August 2021 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan | |
| In office 27 September 1996 – 13 November 2001 | |
| Prime Minister | Mohammad Rabbani Abdul Kabir (acting) |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by |
|
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1998 – 27 October 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Mohammad Rabbani |
| Preceded by | Abdul Jalil |
| Succeeded by | Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Muhammad Hasan Akhund Kakar c. 1945 – c. 1958 |
| Occupation | Politician, Taliban member |
| Political affiliation | Taliban |
Akhund is one of the founding members of the Taliban and has been a senior leading member of the movement. In the first Taliban government (1996–2001), he served as the deputy foreign minister.
Early life and education
Akhund is from southern Afghanistan.[4] He belongs to the Kakar tribe of Pashtuns.[5] According to UN Security Council data, he was born in Pashmul, which at the time of his birth was in Panjwayi District, but is now in Zhari District, in Kandahar Province of the Kingdom of Afghanistan. The UN has two estimates for his year of birth, being approximately 1945–1950 and approximately 1955–1958.[5][6]
He studied in various Islamic seminaries in Afghanistan.[7] Unlike many Taliban leaders, Akhund did not participate in the Soviet–Afghan War.[8]
Political career
Akhund is one of the oldest members of the Taliban, and was a close associate of Muhammad Omar, the first leader of the movement.[7] During the Taliban rule (1996–2001), in addition to being the deputy prime minister, he also served as the foreign minister of Afghanistan from 1998 to 27 October 1999.[9] Like many other senior Taliban members, he is subject to United Nations sanctions related to the sheltering of terrorist groups.[6]
During the period of insurgency (2001–2021), Akhund was intermittently a member of the Quetta Shura.[10] In 2013, he was the chief of the Taliban's commissions and the head of the recruitment commission.[11]
Following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, Akhund was appointed interim Prime Minister.[12][13] His appointment was seen as a compromise between the Taliban's moderate and hardline figures.[14] He took office on 7 September 2021.[15][16] Akhund was appointed as permanent prime minister on 15 August 2025.[17][18]