Afghan Taliban Leader Mullah Omar Dead

USA TODAY’s Robert Padavick discusses the news with world editor Owen Ullmann.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said earlier Wednesday on Twitter that his government, based on credible information, confirmed that Mullah Omar died in April 2013 in Pakistan.

Afghan officials have also said that the Pakistani government claimed that Mullah Omar died two years ago.

In Washington, the U.S. government said they considered the report of the Taliban leader’s death credible, though it was not confirmed by the Taliban or Pakistan.

The reclusive Afghan Taliban leader backed the peace talks with Kabul government, saying in a rare message that the goal of these efforts is an “end to occupation” by foreign forces.

The Taliban has denied previous reports of his death but have not yet issued a statement.

“Mullah Omar was the leader of terrorist groups in Afghanistan”.

The US State Department had placed a 10 million-dollar bounty on Omar’s head.

Afghanistan’s spy agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), had said in November last year that Omar had possibly died.

The Wall Street Journal reports that if, indeed, Omar is dead, it raises questions about who will lead the Taliban in Afghanistan. It is feared Omar’s death could harm the process as he effectively united the Islamist movement, despite some factions being opposed to peace.

“The Taliban could not be immediately reached on the government’s comments about Omar, who has been declared dead many times before”, notes AP.

The BBC said Mullah Omar fought Russian forces from 1983 to 1991, losing his right eye. Following the American invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, the militant leader went into hiding and was thought to be in the Pashtun tribal region of Afghanistan or Pakistan.

The comments came after unnamed government and militant sources said earlier that he had died.

There have been several reports of Mullah Omar’s death in the past. The Taliban website published statements attributed to Omar as recently as five days ago.

“It will be interesting to see if this announcement will have implications for a second round of peace talks, which were likely to be held in Pakistan this week”.

Despite rumours about his death, statements have continued to be issued on behalf of Mullah Omar in recent years.

And the year before, he is reported to have said the Taliban would not seek to take part in a power grab when the US military left Afghanistan.