In the days since taking power in Afghanistan, a wide range of Taliban figures have entered Kabul—hardened commandos, armed madrassa students back from years of exile.

There has been one major exception—the group’s supreme leader. Hibatullah Akhundzada—the so-called commander of the faithful— has shepherded the Taliban as its chief since 2016 when snatched from relative obscurity to oversee a movement in crisis.