By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

In a major shake-up, the Afghan Taliban on Thursday appointed their former deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as the new head of their political office in Qatar.

Baradar has also been appointed as the third deputy of the leader of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

The group also appointed new shadow governors for several Afghan provinces.

"This step has been taken to strengthen and properly handle the ongoing negotiation process with the United States," Mujahid said.

In concert with Baradar’s appointment, multiple changes have also taken place in the group’s military and civilian departments in Afghanistan, the statement said.

Baradar is one of four men, including Mullah Omar, who founded the Taliban movement in Afghanistan in 1994. He served in several key positions when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001.

He fled to Pakistan after the U.S. invasion and was arrested by Pakistani authorities in the southern port city of Karachi in 2010.

Pakistan released Baradar from prison in October 2018, and he later joined his family in Afghanistan. 

His release came after the Taliban announced on Oct. 12 that they had met with U.S. Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha, Qatar.

Analysts say Baradar’s appointment by the Taliban as their top negotiator and head of the group’s political office comes as the group has entered a crucial phase in peace talks with the U.S. in Qatar to find a peaceful solution to the 18-year-long Afghan conflict.