Taliban leader Mullah Omar. PHOTO: REUTERS
Under the leadership of Taliban chief Mullah Akhar Mansoor, Omar’s son Yaqoob and brother Abdul Manan have been offered memberships of the movement’s military commission and the powerful leadership council, respectively, according to a former Taliban minister.
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The two had initially opposed Mansoor’s election but later pledged allegiance to him, apparently putting at rest fears of a split within the movement.
But earlier this month, some commanders who wanted to see Omar’s family in the lead role, elected Muhammad Rasool as leader of the breakaway faction with Mansoor Dadullah as his deputy. The announcement angered the Taliban and led to a major operation against the dissidents in Afghanistan’s Zabul province. The fighting left dozens of renegade fighters dead. The bloody offensive has, however, upset Omar’s family and even some members of the main group, according to a Taliban official.
Another leader said the Taliban ex-chief’s family had expressed shock over the infighting, terming it ‘senseless’ and ‘not jihad but fasad (mischief)’.
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While it is unclear what will be the implications of Omar’s family reservations, it has not deterred the Taliban from continuing their operations against the dissident fighters.
Sources say Mansoor’s commanders are planning another offensive against Rasool and his supporters in Farah and Herat provinces, where they are currently based. The Express Tribune has learnt that Taliban’s Helmand governor, Haji Abdul Manan who is also known as Haji Abdul Rahim Akhund, may lead the operation. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, however, denied the reports. “We think it is propaganda. There is no such plan,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2015.
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