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The Afghan Taliban has publicly named its new leader: Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, according to two commanders of the Islamic militant organization. Mansoor has-been an “active director” of the jihad, or holy war, for some years, it added.

“If anyone does not obey the new chief of the Taliban then he will be not in the Taliban“, he said simply. “Mansoor is a meek and forbearing person”.

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

China has expressed its backing for Pakistan and other parties to “push for peace and reconciliation” in the war-torn Afghanistan, days after the second round of peace talks were put off following news of Taliban chief Mullah Omar’s death.

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

Following a news release of the Afghan government on death of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said on Wednesday that he could not confirm the death but the administration believes the reports are “credible”.

In a statement issued on the website of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Abdul Qayum Zakir said that he has heard that some reports have quoted Mullah Mohammad Hassan Rehmani, Mullah Abdul Razaq and Mullah Mohammad Rasool that he had differences with new Amir Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. The...

An Afghan government official earlier told Anadolu Agency that the information had been passed on by Pakistan and that Mullah Omar had died of an illness.

Earlier in the year of 2010 on April 25, two Pakistani terrorists who had infiltrated into the country from across the Indo-Pak border were killed in an encounter at Ratrawan village in Bamiyal sector, of Gurdaspur district.

The Taliban on Friday formally announced their new leader, saying he had been running the insurgent group’s operations for years in the absence of former leader Mullah Mohammad Omar. It is widely believed that Mullah Omar fled over the border to Pakistan, where he lived...

“He is known among fighters in the field as more into peace talks than Mullah Omar, and less strict”, said one Taliban commander who asked to stay anonymous.

“I do not accept this selection of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor because only a few chose him”, Mullah Abdul Manan said.

Omar’s family said in an audio statement released on August 2 that it had not pledged allegiance to Mullah Akhtar Mansur, whom the Taliban has announced as Omar’s successor.

Taliban insurgent leaders were preparing to attend a second round of negotiations with Afghan officials, prodded by Pakistani authorities amid a thaw in their long-chilly relations with Kabul, and reinforced by a supportive recent statement from the supreme Taliban leader,...

“This is a big responsibly on us”.