A Divided Taliban Has Finally Accepted Its New Leader, Reports Say

The main opposition to Mansoor was from Omar’s son and brother, Mullah Yaqub and Mullah Abdul Manan, who announced their allegiance to Mansoor Tuesday according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

In an audio message released over the weekend, Mullah Omar’s son said he supports Mansour and added that his father had died of natural causes.

The Taliban insurgency has said the family of its late leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has vowed allegiance to new chief Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor, putting an end to concerns over a split within the group.

Foreign Affairs and National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz has told the Senate that Pakistan is making the requisite efforts to restart talks between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban.

The Taliban in July formally confirmed Mullah Omar had been lifeless for greater than two years, after the Afghan spy company leaked the information.

Many Taliban members were unhappy with Mansour’s appointment, because he had concealed news of Omar’s death and orchestrated his own rapid promotion.

“For Taliban as an organization this is a major breakthrough, it will strengthen their position and unite their ranks”, he said.

“Pakistan supports Afghan reconciliation process and hopes Afghan Taliban will renounce violence and return to the negotiating table”, Khalilullah said at his weekly briefing in Islamabad. Militants routinely take advantage of the rugged mountains for their cross-border movement.

The talks are backed by Pakistan.

The insurgents have attacked jails to free hundreds of prisoners including their comrades on several occasions, in both Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan.

Meanwhile, at least two civilians were killed and seven others wounded when a remote-controlled bomb exploded in a market in the Alasai district of Kapisa province, north of capital Kabul.

Abdul Qader, the district governor, said the attacker targeted a government compound that houses a police department and administrative offices.

The group claimed responsibility for the attack saying 10 suicide bombers were sent to carry out the plan.