BBC News | In Depth | War on Terror | After the Taleban (original) (raw)

Who he is: Pir Sayeed Ahmed Gailani is a cleric who left Afghanistan after the communist revolution to found the National Islamic Front in Peshawar. This group became a member of the alliance that formed the Mujahideen government of 1992-96.

What he believes: Mr Gailani is the spiritual leader of a minority Sufi Muslim group. He is a relatively moderate Pashtun leader and reports say he has urged the former king to broaden his political base. His vision even has room for moderate sections of the Taleban.

The cleric said he would have preferred agreement on an administration before the Northern Alliance sent troops into Kabul.