KABUL, (Reuters) – Taliban’s reclusive supreme commander, Haibatullah Akhundzada was seen in a very rare public appearance at Kandahar’s southern city, sources from Taliban said Sunday. The statement contradicts widespread rumours about his death.

Akhundzada https://www.reuters.com/world/haibatullah-akhundzada-shadowy-taliban-supreme-leader-whose-son-was-suicide-2021-09-07, known as the leader of the faithful or Amir ul Momineen, had not been seen in public even after the Taliban’s August takeover of the country, giving rise to the speculation.

A Taliban official who witnessed Akhundzada’s appearance with him told Reuters that the Supreme Leader had visited Jamia Darul Aloom Hakimia (a Kandahar school of religion), on Saturday.

After the U.S.-led withdrawal, September saw the Islamist movement unveil its interim government. The mysterious Akhundzada remained the position he held in 2016 as supreme leader and the final authority for the group’s military, political, and religious affairs.

Although Akhundzada may have made previously unpublicized public appearances, it was this first appearance by a man who had long maintained a low profile.

The only image Reuters could verify was an undated photo posted to a Taliban Twitter feed (NYSE.) May 2016.

His shadowy past has led to endless speculation regarding his health and whereabouts.

The Taliban did not confirm the death of Mullah Omran, their founder and supreme leader for many years.