Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Is Alive

Hind Khoudary

News

15th September 2021

Fabricated photo (Screenshot).

The Claim

Mullah Baradar was mortally wounded in a shootout between rival Taliban factions at the presidential palace.

News posted on

Panjshir Resistance /مقاومت دوم پنجشیر

Akram Gizabi

Mayank Jindal

Hameed Aryan Mandokhail

Emerging story

News circulating online by social media users alleged that the Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was killed in Kabul. Users also claimed that the source was Al Jazeera, as they posted a screenshot of a news infographic from Al Jazeera among the claim.

Taliban Spokesman confirms Mullah Baradar Killed in #Kabul Last Night. pic.twitter.com/xNbf86Jk5K
— Hameed Aryan Mandokhail (@HAryan78) September 13, 2021

Reports of #MullahBaradar died, seems to be correct#mullahabdulghanibaradar #Afghanishtan #Taliban
— Tornado 🇮🇳™ (@TheTeamModi) September 15, 2021

# Aljazira:

According to a Taliban spokesman, Mullah Baradar, the Taliban deputy prime minister, was killed in an inter-team confrontation over the selection of cabinet members.

The accuracy of this news has not been confirmed by other official sources from the Taliban. pic.twitter.com/F4aY7TiXDT
— Hanif Rezaie (@hanifR77360437) September 13, 2021

Misbar’s Analysis

MENA: On Monday, Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar released an audio message amid rumors that he had died in a power struggle with the leader of the Haqqani Network Anas Haqqani. According to Hindustan Times and TOLO News, Barabar is heard saying that he is "alive and well" and denies any death or injury in the audio.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy prime minister of the Taliban govt, in an audio message confirmed he was alive and said he was not injured. The message, tweeted by Taliban spox Mohammad Naeem, follows reports that Baradar was injured or killed in clashes among the Taliban. pic.twitter.com/LqwmjJkVNi
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) September 13, 2021

Reuters also reported that the Taliban denied that one of their top leaders had been killed in a shootout with rivals.

The Taliban denied that one of their top leaders was killed in a shootout with rivals, following rumors about internal splits in the movement nearly a month after its lightning victory over the Western-backed government in Kabul https://t.co/maDLJnJCuy pic.twitter.com/0qQSSk7TzD
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 14, 2021

Furthermore, we did not find any news or infographics by Al Jazeera reporting that a Taliban spokesperson had confirmed the death of Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. The circulating screenshot is fabricated.

However, Journalist Arshad Yusufzai tweeted a picture with Mullah Baradar debunking the death rumors.

Rumours are rumours, and they might remain in the air for sometime. However, #MullahBaradar was (when I had the opportunity of taking these pics in Kabul a few days back) and still is in his best shape. This is probably his only Selfie pic.twitter.com/bNwuKKve3A
— Arshad Yusufzai (@YusufzaiArshad) September 13, 2021