Baradar is the political head of the Taliban and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan. Baradar fought against the Soviet invasion until their withdrawal in 1989, then set up a madrasah in Kandahar with his former commander, Mullah Mohammad Omar, which produced the Taliban. During the Taliban’s first time in power (1996-2001), Baradar held a number of key posts, including that of Deputy Minister of Defence. In 2010, Baradar was imprisoned in Pakistan and only released after the Trump Administration started talks with the Taliban in 2018. He then became the Taliban’s chief ambassador and spoke directly to President Trump.