Afghan raid frees more than 40 from Taliban prison

The sixteen-minute message stated that the studies had been intentionally unfold to create divisions within the Taliban.

“I have recorded my message to let everyone know that I am alive”.

In Islamabad, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah has said authorities are not aware of the alleged firefight in Kuchlak area near Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.

The daily reports that the militant group has slammed claims that Mansoor was critically wounded in a shootout at a gathering near Quetta.

Sultan Faizy, spokesman for Afghan first Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum, said in his twitter account late Thursday that Mullah Mansoor succumbed to injuries he suffered during a gunfight.

The firefight allegedly took place at a meeting of Taliban leaders, supposedly reflecting growing discord within the group.

REUTERS/Taliban Handout/Handout via ReutersMullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, Taliban militants’ new leader, is seen in this undated handout photograph by the Taliban.

An Afghan official had told media in Kabul on Wednesday that firing started in the meeting at the residence of a Taliban leader, Abdullah Sarhadi, after exchange of hot words that also killed at least four other Taliban commanders.

‘We are trying to locate him through our people to get his voice and release to the media to kill these rumours spread by the Afghan puppet government, ‘ Mujahid said.

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

A US-Afghan military operation backed by helicopter gunships freed more than 40 soldiers and police held captive in a Taliban prison in southern Afghanistan, officials said Friday, in a major raid against the insurgent group.

Mansur’s leadership has been rejected by some factions of the Taliban who accused him of covering up Mullah Omar’s death.

Reuters The Reuters news source agency quoted senior Taliban officers as saying the voice on the recording appeared to be in that of Mullah Mansour.

Considering Omar’s death was kept a secret for two years, questions are now being raised about the authenticity of Mansour’s tape.

Pakistan, which has historically backed the Taliban, hosted a first round of peace negotiations in July but the dialogue process stalled soon after Omar’s death was announced.