New Afghan Taliban leader calls for unity, promises to continue insurgency in

“This is a big responsibly on us. This is all our responsibility to carry on jihad until we establish the Islamic state”.

He said Mullah Mohammed Omar gave him all the responsibilities while he was still alive, so he is simply continuing with the mission as instructed by the late leader.

As differences within the Taliban ranks emerged, the new Taliban chief called for unity.

The family in a statement declined to back Akhtar Mansoor who was one of the trusted leaders of Mullah Omar and the founding member, according to senior Taliban leaders.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid sent the audio to journalists and others on Saturday.

A Taliban representative, and the group’s Twitter account confirmed, the death of Omar.

The Taliban has not yet commented on the claims. He had not been seen in public since fleeing over the border into Pakistan after the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.

“I talked to his grandson (who is somewhere in eastern Afghanistan) and he completely rejected rumours of his death”, the commander said.

Reports regarding the death of Jalaluddin Haqqani first appeared in Pakistani medias which quoted sources close the network’s leadership.

“But Afghanistan remains a unsafe place, and the Afghan people still suffer from a brutal insurgency that continues to take innocent lives and hinder Afghanistan’s prospects for peace“, Earnest said.

Afghan forces also retook control Friday of Naw Zad district in Helmand province after three days of fierce fighting with the Taliban, the officials said.