Players in Afghanistan talks

The Taliban have reached out to former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Russian diplomats in Kabul as possible mediators to fulfil their pledge to form an “inclusive” government


EMIR
Haibatullah Akhundzada: Taliban leader. Ultimate authority on political, religious and military affairs

DEPUTIES
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar: Political chief. Negotiated 2020 U.S. withdrawal deal with Trump administration

Sirajuddin Haqqani: Security chief. Leader of Haqqani Network – linked to Al Qaeda

Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob: Military chief. Has backed Taliban deal not to attack U.S. forces


Hamid Karzai: From same Pashtun Popalzai Durrani tribe as Baradar. Karzai and Baradar held backchannel peace talks in 2001 and 2009

Abdullah Abdullah: Head of former Afghan government’s peace delegation. Aug 20: Abdullah, Karzai meet with Taliban’s Abdul Rahman Mansour to discuss Kabul security

Zamir Kabulov: Russia’s special envoy to Afghanistan says Kremlin could recognize new Taliban government. Aug 21: Taliban asks Russian diplomats to offer political deal to resistance fighters in Panjshir Valley, led by Ahmad Massoud (right). Aug 22: Massoud calls for new government to represent all ethnic groups

                  
Sources: Financial Times / Reuters 
Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images, FBI 
© GRAPHIC NEWS