Mullah
Ibrahim Sadr
ملا ابراہیم صدر
Deputy Minister for Interior Affairs
Acting
Assumed office
21 September 2021
LeaderHibatullah Akhundzada
MinisterSirajuddin Haqqani (acting)
Preceded byNoor Jalal (acting)
Acting Minister of Interior Affairs of Afghanistan
In office
24 August 2021 – 7 September 2021
LeaderHibatullah Akhundzada
Preceded byAbdul Sattar Mirzakwal
Succeeded bySirajuddin Haqqani (acting)
Personal details
NationalityAfghan
Political partyTaliban
ProfessionPolitician
Military service
Allegiance Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban)
Branch/service Islamic Army of Afghanistan (1996–2001)
Military Commission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (2014–2020)
RankSupreme Commander (2014–2020)
Commands Military Commission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (2014–2020)
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Ibrahim Sadr (Pashto: ملا ابراہیم صدر; born Khodaidad), sometimes written Ibrahim Sadar, is a senior Taliban official serving as the acting deputy minister of interior affairs of Afghanistan since 21 September 2021.[1] He previously served as the acting minister of interior affairs from 24 August 2021 to 7 September 2021.[2]

Life and career

Born Khodaidad, he changed his name to Ibrahim. Sadr was part of the Afghan mujahideen who fought against the Soviet forces in the Soviet–Afghan War. After the war, he moved to Peshawar in Pakistan to teach in a madrassa. Students there added Sadr (meaning 'president') to his name. During the first Taliban government, he was responsible for the Taliban's defence department managing Soviet aircraft. Holding stringent religious views, he developed close contacts with jihadist groups, including Al Qaeda.[3]

After the US invasion, he returned to Peshawar. He was close to the original Taliban leader Mohammed Omar and Akhtar Mansour, who succeeded Omar, and Sadr rose in the Taliban hierarchy. Sadr was appointed the Taliban military chief commander in 2014.[3][4] The Taliban did not announce his appointment publicly until August 2016.[3][5][6]

Sadr's close friend Mansour, the Taliban leader, was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan in 2016 and Sadr blamed Pakistan. Sadr refused to base himself in Pakistan or to attend Taliban meetings there, upsetting other members. He insisted on remaining in Afghanistan or Iran. Sadr used wealth from opium and marble smuggling to build his own support network within the Taliban, and he was also supported by Iran.[7] Unhappiness with his independence within the Taliban,[3] his dislike of Pakistan and his closeness to Iran led to him being replaced as the military chief by Mohammad Yaqoob in 2020, with Sadr becoming a deputy.[7]

References

  1. ^ Gopalakrishnan, Raju; Mackenzie, James (21 September 2021). Birsel, Robert (ed.). "Taliban appoint hardline battlefield commanders to key Afghan posts". Reuters. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Govt officials appointed by the Taliban so far". Geo News. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Who is Ibrahim Sadr, Taliban-appointed Afghan Interior Minister and a close friend of Al Qaeda?". News18. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  4. ^ Trofimov, Yaroslav; Habib Khan Totakhil (14 May 2014). "World News: Taliban Appoint Military Commander". Wall Street Journal.
  5. ^ "Who is the new Taliban military chief?". Deutsche Welle. 31 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Taliban names Mullah Ibrahim Sadar as new military chief". Military Times. AP. 30 August 2016.
  7. ^ a b Farmer, Ben (7 May 2020). "Taliban founder's son appointed military chief of insurgents". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
Categories