The Afghan Taliban has announced its new leader following the death of Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a USA drone strike last Saturday.
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A breakaway faction led by Mullah Rassoul rejected Akhundzada’s appointment, saying he was selected inside Pakistan without any broad consultation with field commanders in Afghanistan.
Analysts say it is unlikely the group will change direction under hardline religious scholar Akhundzada.
The US and Afghan governments had stated Mansour had been an obstacle to a peace process that had ground to a halt when he refused to participate in peace talks earlier this year.
“All indicators confirm that the person killed in the drone strike was Mullah Akhtar Mansoor who was travelling on a fake identity”.
The foreign policy advisor reiterated the US drone action violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and breached “the principles of the United Nations charter governing the conduct of states”, adding Islamabad has conveyed its concerns to Washington that it would have “serious implications for bilateral ties”.
Yaqoob, believed to be in his mid-20s, stormed out of the council a year ago when Mansour was appointed Omar’s successor, deepening divisions that plague the movement to this day.
It is not yet clear what approach the new leader will take toward peace talks, but observers fear that with the Pakistan-based Haqqani Network gaining more control over the group, the war in the country is likely to become even bloodier.
The US officials had called Mansour a major impediment to peace talks, and some had expressed hope his death would eliminate an obstacle to peace negotiations between the Taliban and the government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. But Obama added that he was hopeful that eventually there will be more progress “when there are those within the community that surround the Taliban that recognize their goals are best achieved by negotiations”.
He said Pakistan was of the view that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and the use of force for past 15 years had failed to deliver peace.
The body of Mullah Mansoor is still in the custody of Pakistan and will be handed over to the concerned after the DNA test of the body is completed, Sartaj Aziz told the press briefing.
But there was hesitation, as senior Taliban figures chose Akhundzada only after two other candidates were ruled out, said two members of the council who attended the meeting.
The announcement of Mullah Omar’s death fueled a leadership battle within the Taliban, one which Afghanistan officials brag they are openly subsidizing to sew discord.
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Department of State stated on Thursday that Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada has never been designated a terrorist by the United States (US).
