For Years Taliban Spokesman Operated From Shadows, Now He Is In Spotlight

But days after the Taliban captured Kabul following the collapse of the US-backed government, Zabihullah Mujahid presented himself to the public for the first time in a surprise press conference in the Afghan capital.

For years the Taliban's top spokesman shunned the public eye, even as he amassed hundreds of thousands of followers online where he live-tweeted the insurgency.  But days after the Taliban captured Kabul following the collapse of the US-backed government, Zabihullah Mujahid presented himself to the public for the first time in a surprise press conference in the Afghan capital.  At first glance, there was little that distinguished the Taliban spokesman from its other leaders -- the middle-aged jihadist sported a black turban and full black beard framing a stoney demeanour carved from decades of war. "We have expelled the foreigners," he proclaimed in his opening remarks.