Taliban Releases ‘Message’ From Leader

“The enemy was bent upon creating panic among the Muslims and the Mujahideen”, the Taliban leader said in the message.

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.

The Taliban issued what they stated was an audio recording of their leader, Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, on Sat.in an effort to quiet speculation in that he’d been killed or wounded in an internecine shooting on Tues. within the village of Kuchlak, in Pakistan.

But amid their rapid gains, confusion surrounds the fate of insurgent leader Mansoor, who was shot in a firefight during an argument with commanders of the divided movement on Tuesday.

“The message of the chief of the Amir ul Momineen (commander of faithful), Mullah Akhtar has been received which will expose the ulterior motives of the enemy”, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a brief message in Pashto and Dari languages sent to media.

“I have recorded this message to let everyone know that I am alive”, the man purported to be Mansour says in a relaxed drawl.

Several Taliban members and Afghan and Pakistani officials said Mansur had been seriously wounded and taken to the hospital.

He also clarified that the never had a fight with anyone and he has not been to Kuchlak area of Pakistan in years.

The Taliban, which saw its first formal split last month, has appeared anxious to quell speculation about Mansour’s fate as it grapples with divisions inside the movement.

Omar died in 2013 but his death was not confirmed until late July.

Considering Omar’s death was kept a secret for two years, questions are now being raised about the authenticity of Mansour’s tape. Mullah Mansoor Dadullah, a top commander in the breakaway group opposing Mansour, is also reported to have been killed last month.

The raid marks a rare success for Afghan forces struggling to beat back the stubborn insurgency rapidly expanding north from its southern hotbeds.

The year’s most powerful images from Reuters photographers around the world.

He was believed to be a proponent of such talks, a stance which prompted rancor among hardline insurgents.

The United States and China have been pushing for the process to restart, but frosty ties between Islamabad and Kabul have been hampering those efforts.