Taliban Releases Audio Presupposed to Be of Their Leader

Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, Taliban militants’ new leader, is seen in this undated handout photograph by the Taliban.

“I have recorded this message to let everyone know that I am alive”, a voice, claiming to be Mansoor, says in the recording.

“There is no truth to the rumours that I was injured or killed in Kuchlak (near Quetta in Pakistan)”, the man claiming to be Mansour said in the file, emailed to media by a Taliban spokesman. “I would like to discuss the Kuchlak issue, where my name is mentioned in some media outlets in that in a shootout between two Taliban factions my injury or death resulted”, the human being within the recording stated, identifying himself as the group’s leader.

In the message, Mansoor denied that there had been any clash and termed reports of Taliban infighting an attempt to create fissures within the group.

Requesting not to be named, the “source” said that Haibatullah had been appointed as Mansour’s successor at an emergency meeting attended by senior militant leaders.

Afghan officials claimed last week that the Taliban leader had been shot when a meeting of senior commanders from the Islamist movement escalated into a firefight, with several men killed.

Rahimullah Yousufzai, a Pakistani analyst and long-time observer of the Taliban, said the voice sounded like Mansour s. “I believe it is him”, he said, but added questions would be asked over the delay in releasing the clip.

The statement did not say how and when the security personnel were taken hostage, while it remained unclear what role U.S. forces played in the raid. He died in 2013 however this was not confirmed till two years later.

His declare to the management has been rejected by some factions within the Taliban who’ve accused him of overlaying up Mullah Omar’s demise and seizing energy with out correct authority.

Considering Omar’s death was kept a secret for two years, questions are now being raised about the authenticity of Mansour’s tape.

Splits subsequently emerged among the insurgents, with some commanders saying Mansour’s selection had been biased.

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A renewed regional push to jump-start peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban could be derailed should it be confirmed that Mansoor had died.

Pakistan, which wields considerable influence over the militants, hosted a historic first round of peace negotiations in July.