The Islamic Emirate’s Supreme Leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, appeared on Saturday at a religious seminary in the southern province of Kandahar.  

Akhundzada made his appearance in the late evening at Hakima seminary in PD 9 of Kandahar city.

“Yesterday, (Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada) came to Hakim seminary,” said Shiekh Sayed Ahmad, head of the seminary. “He greeted around 700 to 800 students of the seminary.”  

“When we saw him, all students and teachers of the seminary were crying and (everyone) was happy and we honor his coming,” said Anas, a student of the seminary. 

No photos or videos of him were released from the scene, but a voice clip has appeared on Afghan social media.  

The second deputy for the prime minister, Abdul Salam Hanafi, said that Akhundzada stressed peace and stability in Afghanistan.  

“He is the Emir of the Islamic Emirate. He is in Afghanistan. He has the right to see any Afghan anytime and hear their problems,” he said.  

There have been reports published earlier that Akhundzada was killed in a blast that took place in Baluchistan of Pakistan.  

“Those who have bounties on them are in Kabul, but I haven’t heard that Mawllavi Haibatullah has a bounty on him,” said Sayed Ishaq Gailani, leader of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan party. “There is no reason that prevents him from being among the people. The people of Afghanistan hope to not only hear his voice but see his face as well.”  

Mullah Haibatullah Ahundzada was selected as supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate after the US drone killed the movement’s previous leader, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansor. There has been only one picture of him released to the media since then.