MEI - Taliban Taliban Leadership Tracker VIEW Directory Taliban Leadership Tracker WHO IS IN POWER KEY INSIGHTS Ethnic Composition in Leadership Among the 1,213 individuals mapped, ethnic Pashtuns dominate the Taliban's senior and mid-level ranks (90%), followed by Tajiks (5.3%) and Uzbeks (~3%). Tribal Makeup in Leadership In southern and northern Afghanistan, leadership is dominated by tribes such as Noorzai, Ishaqzai, Barakzai, and Andar. In eastern and central Afghanistan, tribes like Zadran, Ahmadzai/Kochi, Pashai, Khogyani, and Solaimankhel hold influence. Sanctions Status Only 67 individuals (5.7%) of Taliban rank and file are variously sanctioned by major international actors, including the United Nations, U.S., U.K., France, and the European Union. Individuals sanctioned for terrorism-related activities are subject to an INTERPOL Special Notice and arrest by any member country. Distribution of Leadership Positions Director-level roles in local security and provincial governance account for most positions within the Taliban ranks. Human rights positions are the least represented category. Military Background and Age of Leadership Roughly 80% of the Taliban’s senior and mid-level ranks come from military backgrounds. A young cadre of Taliban leaders aged 24-38 makes up the bulk of the government. While some exhibit a conciliatory stance, all remain steadfast in upholding the Taliban’s ideals of Islamic governance. Links to Militancy Words such as "explosives," "suicide bombing," "al-Qaeda," or affiliation with other militant groups appear in over 20% of profiles (as per current data). Approximately 55 of these profiles show direct or indirect ties to al-Qaeda, underscoring the Taliban’s strong connections to global terrorism. Non-Taliban Appointees Among the 1,213 individuals mapped, around 30 of the listed profiles are non-Taliban individuals either serving in or affiliated with the Taliban government, illustrating the insular nature of Taliban governance. Updated March 2026 Distribution of Profiles by Ethnicity Distribution of Profiles by Sanctions Distribution of Profiles by Province Distribution of Profiles by Position Distribution of Profiles by Position Focus Distribution of Profiles by District Badakhshan Badghis Baghlan Farah Faryab Ghazni Helmand Herat Jawzjan Kabul Kandahar Khost Kunar Kunduz Laghman Logar Nangarhar Nuristan Paktia Paktika Panjshir Parwan Saripul Takhar Uruzgan Wardak Zabul Ask Questions / Report Errors Required * Required * Required * Invalid Email Address * Required * Required * Required * Required * SEND MESSAGE Thank you for contacting us. We will reach out to you soon. An error occured! Please try again ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE With the Taliban entrenched in power in Afghanistan, the group's extremist ideology, history of ruthless repression, and extensive ties to militant and criminal networks requires close monitoring of its members, affiliates, and their activities. This imperative demands a deeper understanding of the leadership configuration of the Taliban's current administration and its internal power dynamics. This initiative seeks to identify the Taliban's “who's who” and provide insights into the regime's corridors of power. Learn more ABOUT THE AUTHOR Javid Ahmad is a Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC. He also teaches at George Washington University. Ask Questions / Report Errors © Copyright MEI 2026