Mullah Yaqoob

"Mohammad Yaqoob" redirects here. For the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, see Muhammad Yaqub. For the Pakistani Olympic hurdler, see Muhammad Yaqub (athlete).

Mohammad Yaqoob
محمد یعقوب
Minister of Defense
Acting
Assumed office
7 September 2021
Prime MinisterHasan Akhund (acting)
DeputyMohammad Fazl (acting)
Abdul Qayyum Zakir (acting)
Supreme LeaderHibatullah Akhundzada
Preceded byAbdul Qayyum Zakir (acting)
Second Deputy Leader of Afghanistan
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 August 2021
Supreme LeaderHibatullah Akhundzada
Preceded bySarwar Danish (as Second Vice President)
In exile
25 May 2016 – 15 August 2021
Supreme LeaderHibatullah Akhundzada
Preceded bySirajuddin Haqqani
Head of the Military Affairs Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 August 2021
In exile
7 May 2020 – 15 August 2021
DeputyIbrahim Sadr
Preceded byIbrahim Sadr
Personal details
Born1990 (age 33–34)
NationalityAfghan
EthnicityGhilji Pashtun
ReligionSunni Islam
Political affiliationTaliban
Military service
AllegianceIslamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Branch/service
Rank General[2]
Commands
  • Deputy Head of the Military Affairs Commission (Southwestern Zone) (2016–2020)
  • Head of the Military Affairs Commission (2020–present)
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid[1] (Pashto/Dari: محمد یعقوب, Pashto pronunciation: [mʊˈhamad jaˈqub], Dari pronunciation: [mʊˈhammad jaːˈqʊb]; born 1990) is an Afghan militant commander and cleric who is the second deputy leader of Afghanistan and the acting defense minister in the internationally unrecognized Taliban regime since 2021. He has been a deputy leader of the Taliban since 2016, and was additionally appointed to his ministerial role after the Taliban's victory over Western-backed forces in the 2001–2021 war. He has been the Taliban's military chief since 2020.

  1. ^ a b "Acting Defense Minister visits 205th Al-Badr corps". Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan – Voice of Jihad. Helmand. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Taliban Defense Ministry: We have targeted military centers in Pakistan along the imaginary Durand Line". Bayan News Agency. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.