After they took power in 1996 he served as deputy minister of foreign affairs under foreign affairs minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil. Though he was reportedly not trusted by Muttawakil, he often gave interviews to foreign media, as he speaks English well. He traveled to Washington, D.C. as acting foreign minister in 1996 to ask the Clinton administration to extend diplomatic recognition to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.[10] In 1998 he reportedly drew the ire of Taliban leader Mohammed Omar, possibly related to issues of abuse of power and a loose attitude to alcohol, and was removed from his position and placed under house arrest.