- Bakht Mohammed
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Mullah Bakht Mohammed Born 1972
AfghanistanAllegiance 
TalibanYears of service ???? - 2008 Rank senior military commander Battles/wars Afghan Civil War
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Taliban insurgency
Waziristan War
War on TerrorismMullah Bakht Mohammed is Mullah Dadullah's younger half-brother who succeeded him as senior military commander of the Taliban. Local people call him Mullah Mansoor Dadullah. He comes from the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, and belongs to the Kakar Pashtun tribe. He appeared in a video which shows a "graduation Ceremony" for suicide bombers.[1] In 2007, he was thought to be approximately 30 years old.[2]
During the 1990s Mullah Bakht Mohammed served as Dadullah' assistant during the Taliban's fight against the Afghan Northern Alliance.[2]
In March 2007, Mullah Bakht Mohammed was serving a prison sentence in Kabul when he was released in exchange for Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, along with several other Taliban. At the time he was not thought to be an important member of the Taliban movement.[2]
After his brother was killed on May 12, a Taliban spokesperson announced that Bakht Mohammed would be taking his place as military commander of the Taliban insurgency in Southern Afghanistan. His appointment is not thought to be the result of any partuclar ability, but was simply due to the fact he was Dadullah's brother. Taliban leader Mullah Omar, who had resented Dadullah's brutality, is said to have opposed Bakht Mohammed's appointment. He did however, receive support from Al-Qaeda, who wished him to employ the tactics of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Afghanistan.[2]
In June 2007, Mullah Bakht Mohammed said: "Sheikh Osama Bin Laden is alive and active. He’s carrying out his duties. The latest proof that he is alive is that he sent me a letter of condolences after the martyrdom of my brother. He advised me to follow my brother’s path."[3]
On December 29, 2007 Mullah Bakht Mohammed was removed from his post as military commander by Mullah Omar due to insubordination.[4]
The Pakistani media reported on February 11, 2008 that he had been seriously wounded and captured by Pakistani security forces in a crackdown on Taliban in Gawal Ismailzai area.[5]
References
- ^ "Taliban replaces slain top commander with brother". Reuters. 2007-05-15. http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSISL30425420070515. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
- ^ a b c d Rahmani, Waliullah (2007-07-24). [tt_news=4325 "Taliban Commander Mansoor Dadullah Follows his Brother's Footsteps"]. The Jamestown Foundation. http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=4325. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- ^ Taliban: Bin Laden alive and well
- ^ "Taleban sack military commander". BBC News. 2007-12-29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7164277.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
- ^ "Senior Taliban figure caught in Pakistan". USA Today. February 11, 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-11-604457253_x.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-13. mirror
Categories:- Living people
- Taliban leaders
- Afghan people stubs
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