Abdul Ghani Baradar

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Abdul Ghani Baradar

Role / Field:

Afghan politician and religious leader; co-founder of the Taliban.

Born:

1963-09-29

Century / Era:

1963s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Abdul Ghani Baradar (born 29 September 1963) is an Afghan politician and religious leader who is the first deputy prime minister, alongside Abdul Salam Hanafi, of the Taliban led government of Afghanistan. A co-founder of the Taliban along with Mullah Omar, he was Omar's top deputy from 2002 to 2010, and since 2019 he has been the Taliban's fourth-in-command, as the third of Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada's three deputies. He held senior positions in the Taliban during their first rule from 1996 to 2001. After the Taliban government fell to the US-led invasion in 2001, he rose to lead the organization's Quetta Shura in Pakistan, becoming the de facto leader of the Taliban. He was imprisoned by Pakistan in 2010, possibly because he had been discussing a peace deal with the Afghan government secretly, without the involvement of Pakistan.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was released in 2018 at the request of the United States and was subsequently appointed a deputy leader of the Taliban and head of their political office in Qatar. Following the Taliban victory in August 2021, he returned to Afghanistan and received his current government post. Baradar is considered to be a moderate Taliban member. U.S. President Donald Trump co-signed the February 2020 Doha agreement with him that led to the full withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan. After the agreement was signed, the Taliban launched a military offensive against the Afghan government on 15 August 2021, while the U.S. withdrawal was still underway.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

On 15 September 2021, Baradar was listed on Time magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential People In 2021" for his role in the Taliban's victory. Reports of his date and place of birth vary. According to the United Nations Security Council Consolidated List, he was born in about 1968 in the Yatimak village of Deh Rawood District in Uruzgan Province of the Kingdom of Afghanistan. However, identity documents have stated his year of birth as 1963, or his date and place of birth as 29 September 1963 in Uruzgan. He is a Zirak Durrani Pashtun of the Sadozai tribe, a sub-tribe of the Popalzai.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1963 (1963-09-29): Birth of Abdul Ghani Baradar — Afghan politician and religious leader; co-founder of the Taliban.
2. 1968: 1968 Milestone — According to the United Nations Security Council Consolidated List, he was born in about 1968 in the Yatimak village of Deh Rawood District in Uruzgan Province of the Kingdom of Afghanistan.
3. 1996: 1996 Milestone — He held senior positions in the Taliban during their first rule from 1996 to 2001.
4. 2001: 2001 Milestone — After the Taliban government fell to the US-led invasion in 2001, he rose to lead the organization's Quetta Shura in Pakistan, becoming the de facto leader of the Taliban.
5. 2002: 2002 Milestone — A co-founder of the Taliban along with Mullah Omar, he was Omar's top deputy from 2002 to 2010, and since 2019 he has been the Taliban's fourth-in-command, as the third of Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada's three deputies.
6. 2010: 2010 Milestone — He was imprisoned by Pakistan in 2010, possibly because he had been discussing a peace deal with the Afghan government secretly, without the involvement of Pakistan.
7. 2018: 2018 Milestone — He was released in 2018 at the request of the United States and was subsequently appointed a deputy leader of the Taliban and head of their political office in Qatar.
8. 2020: 2020 Milestone — President Donald Trump co-signed the February 2020 Doha agreement with him that led to the full withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan.
9. 2021: 2021 Milestone — Following the Taliban victory in August 2021, he returned to Afghanistan and received his current government post.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Abdul Ghani Baradar

True or False: “Abdul Ghani Baradar was immediately appointed as the head of the political office in Qatar upon his release from Pakistan.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He was first appointed a deputy leader of the Taliban and head of their political office in Qatar after his release in 2018.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abd el-Krim — Contemporary (Died in 1963) (1963): Moroccan revolutionary leader who spearheaded the revolt against French and Spanish Protectorates.
• Abdul-Karim Qasim — Contemporary (Died in 1963) (1963): Iraqi military officer who led the country as Prime Minister from 1958 to 1963.
• Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke — Contemporary (Died in 1963) (1963): British Field Marshal and Chief of the Imperial General Staff during WWII.
• Adriene Mishler — Shared historical date (09-29 · Born) (1984): American yoga instructor, actress, and YouTube entrepreneur.
• Alan Moorehead — Shared historical date (09-29 · Died) (1983): Australian war correspondent and author of popular histories, famed for Nile explorations.
• Aldous Huxley — Historical peer (Died in 1963) (1963): English writer and philosopher known for social satire and mystical explorations.
• Alejandro González Iñárritu — Historical peer (Born in 1963) (1963): Acclaimed Mexican filmmaker known for intense psychological dramas exploring the human condition.
• Abba Eban — Historical peer (Died in 2002) (2002): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• Adolph Green — Historical peer (Died in 2002) (2002): American lyricist and playwright known for his long-running, witty partnership with Betty Comden.
• Alex Chilton — Historical peer (Died in 2010) (2010): American musician, best known for his vocal work with The Box Tops and Big Star.
• 1963 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1963
• September 29 (09-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 29

Frequently Asked Questions about Abdul Ghani Baradar