Afghan Taliban confirms Mansoor’s death, appoints new leader

The Afghan Taliban on Wednesday announced Haibatullah Akhundzada as their new leader, elevating a low-profile religious figure in a swift power transition after officially confirming the death of Mullah Mansour in a USA drone strike.

One more thing. Akhundzada doesn’t like to be photographed.

In the 1980s, he was involved in the Islamist resistance against the Soviet military campaign in Afghanistan, but his reputation is more that of a religious leader than a military commander.

The last major attack in Kabul claimed by the Taliban was on April 19, when a massive bomb killed 64 people and wounded hundreds, many of them civilians.

Within an hour of Akhundzada’s appointment, a Taliban suicide bomber attacked a bus in Kabul.

“The Department of Defense will also continue to support the government of Afghanistan’s effort to build a brighter and safer future for the people of Afghanistan”, Carter said.

Akhundzada was appointed as “chief justice” after a US-led forces attacked Afghanistan back in 2001 and topple the Taliban government.

Both deputies of the new Taliban leader are in favor of continuing the insurgency, which makes it unlikely for peace talks to take place any time soon.

“The Taliban should seize the opportunity to pursue the only real path for ending this long conflict – joining the Afghan government in a reconciliation process that leads to lasting peace and stability”, Obama said earlier this week.

She underlined that by claiming the responsibility for Mansour’s death, the U.S. seeks to improve its worldwide prestige.

Many analysts are of the opinion that his religious authority may have immensely contributed to his elevation as a leader of the group, and besides, his family comes from the Taliban heartland. “Political settlement is the only option for #Taliban or new leadership will face the fate of #Mansoor”, spokesman Javid Faisal said in a tweet.

Wednesday’s attack, along with the US targeting of Mansur, signal little hope for peace prospects between the Taliban and Afghan government.

All the members of Taliban have pledged allegiance to Haibatullah who was declared the new Emir-al-Momineen (commander of the faithful), according to the statement cited by Reuters.

The statement also named his two deputies, Mawlawi Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob. It held captured USA soldier Bowe Bergdahl before he was repatriated in a prisoner swap. Although Mansour had already been leading the militant organization, his official appointment caused several members to join other militant groups, and one of them, Mullah Rasul, began a breakaway branch of the Taliban.

The Taliban statement also confirmed the death of the previous leader, who was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s Balochistan province Saturday.

The Taliban statement called on all Muslims to mourn Mansour for three days.

“Mullah Mansour Akhtar’s killing can’t be confirmed, as there is no scientific source to confirm the identity of the targeted body”.

Pakistan voiced objections over Mansour’s assassination, stating that the strike was a violation of its sovereignty.