In the aftermath of this revelation, the Taliban fell into a succession dispute, with the family of Mullah Omar opposing the new leader Mullah Mansour, and the Afghan government backed off from the talks due to a surge in suicide attacks in Kabul.
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The Taliban statement, meanwhile, clarified that Yaqub and Mannan had delayed their allegiance pledges not because of differences with Mansour but in “good faith” over the process. Mullah Omar’s brother reportedly described Mansour as “a usurper” in an interview.
“Mullah Mansour accepted all these demands”, the aide said, asking not to be named.
Mullah Omar’s family and a number of senior figures were against his successor and splits emerged into the open.
Omar’s family will be protected from any threats, a Taliban commander close to Mansour said.
These include the election of a new Taliban Shura, or high council, which will be headed by a member of Omar´s family – most likely Yakoub.
A group led by Omar’s younger brother Mullah Abdul Manan had alleged that Mansoor had essentially appointed himself head of the militant group without winning the support from the movement’s religious leaders and key commanders.
His swift appointment had angered some Taliban leaders after the group’s founder’s death was confirmed in July. However, Mullah Mansour’s leadership now seems accepted by most Taliban.
This conflicts with the account given by the Afghan government, which said Mullah Omar died in hospital in Karachi in 2013, despite Pakistani denials he was in the country.
A total of 41 people, majority civilians, were injured when the bomber targeted the local district administration compound in the town of Paghman, said a police spokesman, Ebadullah Karimi. The Taliban’s official spokesman, representing Mullah Mansour, confirmed that the changes would be implemented.
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The Afghan and Western governments have long alleged that numerous Taliban’s leaders are based in Pakistan. USA and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces formally ended their combat mission at the end of past year , leaving Afghan security forces in charge of public safety in the country.
