The Taliban has descended into bitter in-fighting with so-called 'moderates' thought to be at war with terrorist hardliners as both vie for power in the vacuum left by America's retreat from Afghanistan.
Mullah Baradar, a member of the Taliban old-guard who led negotiations with the Americans Qatar, is thought to have been involved in a fight with Khalil Haqqani, a leader in the terrorist Haqqani Network and one of the FBI's most-wanted, in Kabul's presidential palace as the pair argued over who had done more to drive US forces out.
Haqqani - who is the country's new refugee minister - appears to have emerged the victor, with Baradar - the new deputy prime minister - now in hiding, with the Taliban forced to deny rumours that he was shot dead in the fight.
Haibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban's supreme leader, a close ally of Baradar, and Emir of the new government, is also missing - with the Islamists insisting the pair are in Kandahar, though without providing convincing evidence.
The fighting is threatening to split the Taliban's fledgling government between Baradar, Akhundzada and their allies - including the likes of Abdul Salam Hanafi - on one side, and the fearsome Haqqanis - including Khalil and his nephews Sirajuddin and Anas - on the other.
But the divisions could not come at a worse time for the country, which is teetering on the brink of economic collapse with millions facing starvation. Should the new administration collapse completely it could even plunge the country into civil war - creating a haven for terror groups to operate in.
Mullah Baradar, the Taliban's deputy leader and Afghanistan's deputy PM, is currently missing after reports of a punch-up with Khalil Haqqani, a leader in the fearsome Haqqani network that is vying for power in the new Afghan government with Baradar's more-moderate allies
Rumours of in-fighting between the two factions emerged when the Taliban announced its new government, with Baradar passed over for the prime minister's job in favour of Hassan Akhund - a less-prominent figure who served as deputy PM during the first Taliban government in the 1990s.
That led to speculation that Baradar was demoted to appease the Haqqanis, who took a larger-than-expected role in the Cabinet - with Sirajuddin appointed Interior Minister.
Those rumours seemed to be confirmed on Tuesday when senior Taliban sources told the BBC that Baradar's fight with Khalil Haqqani had been partly about the structure of the new government.
The fight had also been over who should take credit for the US retreat, with Baradar arguing that his diplomatic team in Doha should get the credit while Kahlil arguing his network of fighters did the heavy lifting.
'Baradar and Khalil... exchanged strong words as their followers brawled with each other nearby,' the source said.
Unsubstantiated reports of Baradar's death then began to circulate including claims that the palace fight had ended in a gun battle in which he died, with the Taiban strongly denying that anything untoward had happened.
However, the Islamists have so-far failed to produce convincing evidence of Baradar's whereabouts and safety.
Zabihullah Mujahid is pictured announcing Afghanistan's new Prime Minister as Hassan Akhund - a role Baradar was expected to get, sparking rumours that he was demoted to appease the Haqqanis
The first 'proof' was nothing more than a handwritten note, signed by one of Baradar's deputies Mawlawi Musa Kaleem, insisting there had had been no gun battle and that the leader is in Kandahar.
Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem then released the audio recording on Monday in which a man purporting to be Baradar accused 'media propagandists' of spreading false rumours about him
'There had been news in the media about my death,' Baradar said in the clip.
'Over the past few nights I have been away on trips. Wherever I am at the moment, we are all fine, all my brothers and friends.
'Media always publish fake propaganda. Therefore, reject bravely all those lies, and I 100 percent confirm to you there is no issue and we have no problem.'
Muhammad Suhail Shaheen, one of the group's most-senior spokesmen who is
