Mullah Haibatullah appointed as Taliban’s acting supreme leader

Conflicting reports have deepened uncertainty surrounding the fate of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, after the insurgent Islamist group repeatedly denied he had been wounded in a gunfight after a dispute with other senior leaders.

The “rumours” have been deliberately propagated to create a division in the Taliban and to weaken it, the voice in the audio message said. This incident by no means occurred and it isn’t true. “This is enemy propaganda”, a person claiming to be Mullah Mansour says in the message.

The voice in the clip could not be independently verified while some militant commanders said it appeared to be that of Mansour.

The Taliban said it was a clear proof and should remove any lingering doubts that he was injured or killed in any recent incident.

He also clarified that the never had a fight with anyone and he has not been to Kuchlak area of Pakistan in years.

In the message, a man purporting to be Mansour said: “I have recorded this message to let everyone know that I am alive”.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who earlier said Mansour was out of contact in a “far away location”, late Saturday claimed a new audio statement from him had been received. For years, there were off-and-on rumors that Omar was dead and no longer leading the Taliban.”Simply posting denials… won’t be considered credible enough, especially after Omar’s death was concealed for years”.

Despite his appointment was called an unanimous decision by the group’s Quetta Council, Mullah Omar’s brother, Mullah Manan along with various other Taliban leaders had opposed with his election as the replacement supreme leader of Taliban.

In Wardak province about 40 miles east of Kabul, eight people were killed and two wounded Friday in fighting between army troops and Taliban militants.

Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, Taliban militants’ new leader, is seen in this undated handout photograph by the Taliban.

Splits subsequently emerged among the insurgents, with some commanders saying Mansour’s selection had been biased.

Mullah Mansoor Dadullah, a top commander in a breakaway group opposing Mansour, is also reported to have been killed last month.

Mansour is believed to be a proponent of talks with Afghan authorities, a deeply contentious issue that has prompted much rancour within hardline insurgent ranks.