Split aside, Taliban rule out change in leadership

Senior political adviser says Pakistan-brokered process not dead but hints at longer hiatus in resumption of talks

ISLAMABAD:

As signs of cracks within the Afghan Taliban become more visible, a senior leader of the ultraorthodox militia has ruled out any change in the new leadership, saying that ‘a few people’ opposed to the election of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor had no role in the 15-year-long resistance against the US-led ‘occupation of Afghanistan’. The statement came amid reports that a group of top pro-Taliban Afghan Ulema has started mediations to resolve differences over the successor of the movement’s longtime leader Mullah Omar.

“The ‘Amirul Momineen’ (leader of the faithful) has been elected with a clear majority at a very sensitive time, and opposition to his election is aimed at sabotaging the system as there is no possible alternative,” said Abdul Hayee Motmaen, a senior Taliban political adviser and former spokesman for Mullah Omar.

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In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Motmaen said Mullah Mansoor had been practically in charge of all organisational matters for five or six years and all commissions, all shadow governors and all senior leaders had been working under his leadership even when Mullah Omar was alive.  It was the first-ever interview to a Pakistani media outlet by a senior adviser to Akhtar Mansoor’s political affairs committee.

“The opinion of Mujahideen and those who had an active role during the resistance and are uninfluenced is credible and they are united on the election [of Mullah Mansoor]. A few people who have been misled by someone will oppose the new leader,” Motmaen said.

He disclosed that Mullah Mansoor had initially refused to shoulder the responsibility but the majority of the Shura (council) members and Ulema convinced him to lead the movement. “The entire ‘Islamic Emirate’, its active commissions and their heads, all shadow governors, and Jihadi commanders and influential faces were unanimous on the election of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and have sworn allegiance to him.”

Asked about some senior Taliban leaders who have publicly rejected Mullah Mansoor’s ascendency, Motmaen said such people were few in number.

Mullah Omar’s family

When quizzed about the opposition of Mullah Omar’s family to Mullah Mansoor’s election, he said the deceased Taliban supremo had never even hinted that someone from his family should succeed him.

“I agree that Mullah Omar’s family has yet not endorsed the election of Mullah Mansoor but I think this is not a serious issue as the whole movement and those who had been empowered by the ‘Amirul Momineen’ [Mullah Omar] now stand with the new leader,” he said. “It is a fact that Mullah Omar’s family commands respect among the Taliban but as far as I know they do not aspire leadership of the movement.”

Peace talks

About the new leadership’s policy vis-à-vis peace talks with the Afghan government, Motmaen said the Taliban believed in the political option alongside armed resistance. “However, all Mujahideen and leaders think there is a need for such an understanding that should not discredit the ongoing Jihad. This policy should not harm the achievements and sacrifices of Mujahideen,” he added.

Qatar office

Motmaen reiterated the Taliban’s longstanding stance that their Qatar office has been tasked to pursue peace talks. “I also want to categorically state that the Islamic Emirate has delegated all affairs of the reconciliation process to the Political Commission in Qatar. The responsibility rests with Qatar-based negotiators. All efforts should be carried forward through them.”

Motmaen would not say the Pakistan-brokered peace talks are dead now. “These options have not been closed but there is a strong possibility that there could not be any visible progress [in peace talks] for a few months in the wake of the current situation.”

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Mullah Omar’s death

Asked why Mullah Omar’s death was kept secret for so long, Motmaen said the family of the deceased Taliban supremo and some key Islamic scholars had issued a decree against disclosing the death of Mullah Omar, saying this could create problems.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2015.