Talk:Abdul Ghani Baradar

Ethnicity

Since Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic nation and people mix with one another we need to verify his ethnicity before we assume what he was. He was most likely a Pashtun but we need to be sure so a reliable and verfiable source is needed for this. Uruzgan Province is overwelmingly Pashtuns but it's right next to Hazara people area and some Tajik people also live among Pashtuns in the mostly Pashtun areas such as Kandahar, Helmand, Paktia, etc. Some Tajiks and others who adopted Pashtun culture are also among the Taliban.--119.73.6.234 (talk) 23:09, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

Agreed. But both Interpol and this book state that he is Popolzai. Unless other reliable sources contradict that, I don't think there's much reason to doubt right now (see Washington Post too). Joshdboz (talk) 23:16, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

According to our article on Popolzai it is a subgroup of Pashtuns. Geo Swan (talk) 00:46, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Barader?

In 2007 at least two sources [1] [2] reported that a Mullah Barader was killed in an airstrike. Is it the same person? username 1 (talk) 21:56, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

I'm 99% sure it's the same guy. Per those links, I don't know any other top Taliban commander's "known colloquially as Mullah Brother, was close to Taliban leader Mullah Omar", "member of the Taliban leadership council" (aka Quetta shura), and "considered to be the second major commander of the Taliban after Mullah Dadullah, who was killed during NATO operations in May" (Dadullah was apparently his arch rival, per Newsweek). Like a number of cases in Pakistan, I think this was just a case of mistakenly thinking they'd killed him (see Ilyas Kashmiri, who was supposedly killed but then reappeared). Joshdboz (talk) 22:28, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

I have a strong recollection that there is an honorific from that region, that sounds something like Baradur, that means "soldier". This may be an honorific -- not actually part of his name. Geo Swan (talk) 00:49, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

The Mullah and Baradar/Berader are just that, the latter meaning brother (see Baradari). But the sources clearly describe the same person. It's just the way they transliterate it. Some even use "Berader" now ([3] [4]). Joshdboz (talk) 11:49, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Where is he now?

Has he been extradicted to Afghanistan? Or still in Pakistan? Rmhermen (talk) 16:55, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

@Rmhermen back in Afghanistan commanding terrorists. Wengui Guo (talk) 15:37, 18 August 2021 (UTC)

DuckDuckGo snippet lists his name as "Gaylord"

How can we remove that, or does enough time need to pass? Or, is that something reliable sources can confirm? TuffStuffMcG (talk) 09:55, 15 August 2021 (UTC)

Appears to have been fixed.TuffStuffMcG (talk) 20:44, 16 August 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 15 August 2021

He is the new President of Afghanistan Shermantec (talk) 20:03, 15 August 2021 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 20:10, 15 August 2021 (UTC)

"He headed the Taliban government in exile in Qatar and is touted to be the President of Afghanistan, according to experts"

Maybe a note somewhere in the lead if not a replacement officially.

https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2021/08/15/afghanistan-president-ashraf-ghani-to-step-down-soon.html 

https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2021/08/15/the-whos-who-of-talibans-top-leadership.html

TuffStuffMcG (talk) 22:57, 15 August 2021 (UTC)

Significant portion of text was removed in recent edit - someone may want to revert that or add it back

A significant chunk of text was just completely removed in a recent edit, which does not seem prudent. I tried to revert but as there have been edits since it said I would have to do it manually... Edit I am referring to is https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abdul_Ghani_Baradar&diff=1039125186&oldid=1039124702 --AF1990 (talk) 22:55, 16 August 2021 (UTC)

Thanks. Someone reverted it successfully. Nurg (talk) 02:23, 23 August 2021 (UTC)

and for what it's worth I agree with semi-protection for this article, honestly surprised it is not in place already when it is for most national leaders. Whether recognised or not, his presence in worldwide news alone and as a controversial figure would surely warrant semi-protection of the article I would imagine. --AF1990 (talk) 22:58, 16 August 2021 (UTC)

To add to article

To add to this article: the fact that Abdul Ghani Baradar met with Mike Pompeo. 173.88.246.138 (talk) 01:21, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 17 August 2021

Change “president” to “leader” 2601:192:4700:CF90:48AE:2F19:8E90:373D (talk) 02:15, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

 Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{edit semi-protected}} template. —Sirdog9002 (talk) 03:50, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

Please stop adding Baradar as the President

User:GucciNuzayer and User:NaniEmperor will you please stop putting in Baradar as the President just because a few sources like (https://www.sentinelassam.com/international/afghanistan-name-changed-to-islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-550763) claim he is Presiden?

It was just a rumour which others decided to take as a fact. Even today it's being stated he is rumoured to be President (https://news.abplive.com/news/world/taliban-s-top-leaders-to-reach-kabul-likely-to-announce-mullah-abdul-baradar-as-new-afghanistan-president-1476596).

I've searched Taliban's channels and they've certainly made no such announcement regarding him as President on social media at least. Nor on TV. LéKashmiriSocialiste (talk) 05:56, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

Btw here's another source from today that doesn't claim he is President but is likely to be (https://www.indiatvnews.com/video/news/taliban-take-over-afghanistan-mullah-baradar-likely-to-be-next-president-727001). It is clear Taliban hasn't declared him President only a few websites prematurely without any confirmation. LéKashmiriSocialiste (talk) 06:00, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

Akhund

Is 'Akhund' part of his name or is it a title given to him? Nurg (talk) 10:21, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

It's a religious title, short for Akhunzada.--39.41.31.180 (talk) 20:22, 9 September 2021 (UTC)

President of Afghanistan, or not

Well, which is it? GoodDay (talk) 14:34, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

No word from the Taliban yet about a new government. Absent that, I don't think Mullah Baradar is the President, nor can he (because he doesn't hold the office) dispute the claim of Amrullah Saleh, despite what President of Afghanistan says. Ultimately, we follow sources, we don't lead. — Javert2113 (Siarad.|¤) 16:13, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 18 August 2021

He was released in 2014 during the Obama Biden administration from Gitmo. 97.45.129.211 (talk) 00:22, 18 August 2021 (UTC)

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 00:29, 18 August 2021 (UTC)

US was getting significant help from the ISI in capturing Abdul Ghani Baradar

The User @Nurg: deleted the role of the CIA https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abdul_Ghani_Baradar&diff=prev&oldid=1040178152 Why? The CIA is the intelligence arm of national security. They acquire, analyse, and share information about things that might impact national security with US government policymakers. Here some references:

• Mark Mazzetti, Dexter Filkins: Secret Joint Raid Captures Taliban’s Top Commander. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/world/asia/16intel.html Quote: The Taliban’s top military commander was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence forces, according to American government officials. The commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is an Afghan described by American officials as the most significant Taliban figure to be detained since the American-led war in Afghanistan started more than eight years ago. He ranks second in influence only to Mullah Muhammad Omar, the Taliban’s founder and a close associate of Osama bin Laden before the Sept. 11 attacks. Mullah Baradar has been in Pakistani custody for several days, with American and Pakistani intelligence officials both taking part in interrogations, according to the officials.

• https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123761631&t=1629691611251 Quote: The Taliban's top military commander has been captured in Pakistan in a joint raid by the Pakistani and U.S. spy agencies.

• https://www.voanews.com/usa/joint-us-pakistani-raid-captures-top-taliban-commander Quote: U.S. officials say American and Pakistani intelligence forces together captured the Afghan Taliban's top military commander several days ago in Pakistan. Officials say the commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is the most significant Taliban figure detained since the war in Afghanistan started eight years ago. The New York Times first reported news of the arrest late Monday.

That the US was getting significant help from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in capturing a major military leader should definitely not be deleted.--93.211.217.64 (talk) 04:26, 23 August 2021 (UTC)

Hello 93.211.217.64. Thank you for those references and for your watchful interest. I am making a series of edits to the article bit by bit and intend to do more, so please be patient. It is a topic that requires careful reading of sources, so takes some time. The nature of American involvement in the arrest has been a matter of dispute between Pakistan and the US since the arrest came to light. It seems that the CIA assisted with intelligence, but Pakistan disputed that CIA officers were in the raiding party. And it seems the ISI was getting help from the US, not the other way round, as you put it (though perhaps the US thought they were the main actor). Nurg (talk) 05:06, 23 August 2021 (UTC)

I have added info, including from Filkins, one of the authors you cited, but from an article he wrote months later, when further info had emerged. There is still more work on the article to come. Please be patient. Nurg (talk) 06:46, 23 August 2021 (UTC)

The government-supported newspaper of the United States Armed Forces ″Stars and Stripes″ https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2021-08-18/mullah-rise-charts-taliban-long-road-back-to-power-2593057.html → Quote: Baradar was arrested in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi in 2010 in a joint raid by the CIA and Pakistan's counterterrorism forces.

The BBC https://web.archive.org/web/20100218045137/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8519616.stm → Quote: The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), which helped the CIA arrest Mullah Baradar, is widely understood to be well outside the control of the government and is more directly linked with the military.

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/1070/arrest-of-mullah-omars-no-2-a-major-blow-to-taliban → Quote: According to well placed Pakistani intelligence sources, Baradar’s arrest became possible because of a rift within the Taliban ranks which led to a tip about his whereabouts in Karachi. He was subsequently arrested on February following a raid jointly carried out by the Pakistani and the American intelligence sleuths.

https://geopolitics.co/2021/08/19/mullah-abdul-ghani-baradar-taliban-leader-with-near-legendary-status/ Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Taliban leader with Near-Legendary Status, August 19, 2021 → Quote: Baradar was arrested in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi in 2010 in a joint raid by the CIA and Pakistan’s counter terrorism forces.

The FT https://www.ft.com/content/a895adc1-3268-4387-8a11-5022768c6b47 , August 21 2021 → Quote: Back in 2010, Baradar, then a top Taliban military leader, had been arrested in the Pakistani port city of Karachi in a joint operation by Pakistani and US spies. Eight years later, he was freed, supposedly at Washington’s behest, and flown to Doha to head the Taliban political office. This is the de facto embassy of the militant group that ruled Afghanistan under strict Islamic law from 1996 until the US-led invasion in 2001. In Doha, Baradar represented the Taliban in talks with US president Donald Trump’s administration, which culminated in the February 2020 deal for withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan. That, in turn, paved the way for the Taliban’s seizure of the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Sunday, after an almost unobstructed sweep across the country, as Afghan army units, demoralised by the loss of US support, stood down.

Talking about the main actor: Baradar joined the ranks of the CIA-backed mujahideen, [‘Yes, the CIA entered Afghanistan before the Russians…’” (Carter/Brzezinski 1998)] to fight against the Soviet Union, was arrested at the quest of the CIA, and was freed from jail in Pakistan three years ago at the request of the US government. And now you want to obscure the role of the CIA and the United States? --93.211.217.64 (talk) 07:55, 23 August 2021 (UTC)

Just alerting all participants that I have removed the edit semi-protected article template from this section, as it is inappropriate for ongoing discussions. —Sirdog (talk) 16:01, 23 August 2021 (UTC)

Official self-reported date of birth

Abdul Ghani Baradar's valid Afghan passport states that he was born on September 29, 1963. [5] [6] He looks too old for being born in 1968. --39.41.31.180 (talk) 20:32, 9 September 2021 (UTC)

This makes sense. I had trouble reconciling the report that he and Omar were friends as teenagers with an 8-year age difference, but 3 years is more reasonable. Now we just need this birth date to get into reliable sources. Nurg (talk) 03:13, 10 September 2021 (UTC)

"On a journey" - deputy PM Barader

• As of September 14 (year 2021), Taliban spokesperson is talking about his contact with secretary of Abdul Ghani Baradar, and non-contact with Barader himself. Source [7] CNN News 18.. 89.8.177.35 (talk) 11:15, 14 September 2021 (UTC)

With his secretary? This indicates he may have died as this rumor is becoming more common. No video in more than a week. (Only one audio recording claiming to be him was released?) Maybe we can add it to this article. Khestwol (talk) 16:06, 14 September 2021 (UTC)

Also check BBC,[8] which says: "One Taliban source told BBC Pashto that Mr Baradar and Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani - the minister for refugees and a prominent figure within the militant Haqqani network - had exchanged strong words, as their followers brawled with each other nearby." Khestwol (talk) 20:35, 14 September 2021 (UTC)

@Khestwol - I think the lede [9] is fine for now. However, much of what you are suggesting, could fit in a new subsection; I think it is not too soon to mention notable claims (or rumors) about him being injured/hospitalised or dead. (Note: I will not start the subsection/section.) 89.8.141.205 (talk) 22:15, 15 September 2021 (UTC)

• "amid reports [... he] had left the war-torn nation". Source: today, [10] CNN-News18. 89.8.131.250 (talk) 07:02, 16 September 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 15 September 2021

Abdul ghani baradar is a pakistani Talib. 142.116.219.121 (talk) 06:42, 15 September 2021 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. — IVORK _Talk 06:51, 15 September 2021 (UTC)

Infobox

There is no current consensus to use "acting" as an infobox parameter rather than as part of the person's title itself, and it is much clearer to the reader to immediately see the word "Acting" in the title rather than to have the word down below. Softlavender (talk) 15:03, 3 October 2021 (UTC)