Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was shot and seriously wounded in a firefight that broke out after a dispute erupted with other senior figures at a meeting in the Afghan-Pakistan border region, Afghan, Pakistani and Taliban sources confirmed.
Advertisement
However, Taliban spokesman Mullah Yousaf Ahmadi had denied the death of Mullah Akhtar, 92 News reported.
Afghanistan’s chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, said through his spokesman that Mansour had been wounded in the encounter.
The Taliban officially rejected as “absolutely baseless” the reports of the firefight, which officials and militant sources said was triggered by an altercation at an insurgent gathering that cascaded out of control.
Another Taliban source, spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, denied that any shootout had taken place or that Mansoor was hurt.
Afghan officials said Mansoor was injured during a meeting of the Afghan Taliban in Kuchlak area, some 25 km east of Quetta, the Balochistan provincial capital, on Wednesday.
“There were differences on some points which later turned into harsh words, then Sarhadi opened fire and the others returned fire”, the AFP quoted the Taliban source as saying.
Mullah Mansour’s appointment as leader brought about splits within the terror group, and several senior Taliban commanders refused to pledge allegiance to him.
Mansoor’s leadership was challenged among some followers, and a breakaway Taliban faction emerged, followed by clashes between the two groups.
“Mansour was seriously injured”.
Many were also unhappy that Omar’s death had been kept secret for two years – during which time annual Eid statements were issued in his name.
Mansoor is believed to be under pressure by Pakistan’s ISI intelligence service to restart peace talks with the Afghan government, which has further inflamed divisions within the movement between pragmatists and hardline militants.
Faizi said Mansur became embroiled in a heated exchange with Mullah Abdullah Sardari, a Taliban commander.
The dynamic is complicated by the fact that the Taliban is considering entering into peace talks with the U.S. and the government in Kabul.
Pakistan, which wields considerable influence over the militants, hosted a historic first round of peace negotiations in July.
Kabul has repeatedly accused Islamabad of aiding the Taliban.
Advertisement
The Afghan government and Taliban confirmed this week that a deputy to Rasool, Mullah Dadullah, a hardliner and rival to Mansoor, was killed in clashes with forces loyal to Mansoor last month.
