Taliban Leader Said to Be Injured in Firefight

Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour has been injured in a shootout between senior members of the outlawed movement, according to Taliban sources.

Afghan officers consider Mansour was both gravely injured or died before he might reach a Pakistani hospital.

Speaking to Pakistan’s Express Tribune newspaper, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied any incident of firing, and attributed the story to a newspaper recently launched by the Afghan presidential palace. Pakistan similarly said they couldn’t confirm any fighting in Quetta, which seems like it would’ve been glaring if it was a big as claimed.

“Some media outlets published reports today from the mouths of Kabul intelligence circles that the leader of Islamic Emirate (Mullah Akhtar Mansoor) was attacked and wounded in Kuchlak region of Quetta city yesterday”. They spread these rumours about a clash between Taliban leaders.

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.

Mansour assumed leadership of the Taliban on July 31 – despite the objections of some group members – following the announcement of the death of group founder Mullah Mohamed Omar.

“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.

A number of senior commanders refused to pledge allegiance to him and a splinter group opposed to him was set up last month under Mullah Mohammad Rasool.

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. But the dialogue process stalled soon after Omar’s death was announced.

Pakistan, which has historically backed the Taliban, hosted a first round of peace negotiations in July.

Since he was elected swiftly after Omar’s death, rivals have accused Mansoor of assuming power without the necessary consensus.

Since August Mullah Mansour has overseen a series of battlefield victories, including briefly capturing the northern Afghan city of Kunduz – a huge setback for Western-backed Afghan forces.