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Taliban leader Mullah Omar 'has been dead for two years', Afghan government confirms Taliban leader Mullah Omar 'has been dead for two years', Afghan government confirms
(35 minutes later)
Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has died.Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has died.
Afghanistan's main intelligence agency confirmed the news on Wednesday that the reclusive leader - who the US placed a $10m million bounty on - died in April 2013 in a Pakistani hospital in Karachi.Afghanistan's main intelligence agency confirmed the news on Wednesday that the reclusive leader - who the US placed a $10m million bounty on - died in April 2013 in a Pakistani hospital in Karachi.
"We confirm officially that he is dead," Abdul Hassib Seddiqi, the spokesman for Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, told The Associated Press."We confirm officially that he is dead," Abdul Hassib Seddiqi, the spokesman for Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, told The Associated Press.
Earlier on Friday a Taliban spokesperson, Quriy Yousef Ahmadi, denied reports from the BBC that their leader was dead. He told Sky News, "According to my information Mullah Omar is still alive and leading the movement."Earlier on Friday a Taliban spokesperson, Quriy Yousef Ahmadi, denied reports from the BBC that their leader was dead. He told Sky News, "According to my information Mullah Omar is still alive and leading the movement."
The death of Mullah Omar in 2013 raises questions over the origin of a number of official statements from the Taliban in the past two years, most recently a statement that appeared to support a partial softening of relations between his forces and that of the Afghan government. Afghan spokesman Zafar Hashemi speaking in Kabul on Wednesday (AP) The death of Mullah Omar in 2013 raises questions over the origin of a number of official statements from the Taliban in the past two years, most recently a statement that appeared to support a partial softening of relations between his forces and that of the Afghan government.
The statement, released in early July, appears to back a fledging peace movement between the Afghan government and the Taliban with the aim of removing foreign forces. It was noted that the statement differed from the usual either visual or audio recordings, and was instead a text document - fuelling more rumours he had died.The statement, released in early July, appears to back a fledging peace movement between the Afghan government and the Taliban with the aim of removing foreign forces. It was noted that the statement differed from the usual either visual or audio recordings, and was instead a text document - fuelling more rumours he had died.
Omar has been falsely reported as dead before. In 2011, local media in the country claimed he had been killed – reports later contradicted by Pakistani officials.Omar has been falsely reported as dead before. In 2011, local media in the country claimed he had been killed – reports later contradicted by Pakistani officials.
Omar, who led the Taliban to victory over various militias following the Soviet withdrawal (during which he allegedly lost an eye to shrapnel), was made the 'Supreme Leader' of the Taliban movement in 1998.Omar, who led the Taliban to victory over various militias following the Soviet withdrawal (during which he allegedly lost an eye to shrapnel), was made the 'Supreme Leader' of the Taliban movement in 1998.
His alliance with Osama Bin Laden prompted the invasion that would eventually depose him in 2001 and send him into hiding for over a decade, with a $10m bounty placed on his head by the US state department. Former Taliban fighters display their weapons after they joined Afghan government forces in 2012 (Getty) His alliance with Osama Bin Laden prompted the invasion that would eventually depose him in 2001 and send him into hiding for over a decade, with a $10m bounty placed on his head by the US state department.
His death comes as the Taliban faces pressure from forces apparently allied to the self-declared Islamic State and amid worsening security in Afghanistan.His death comes as the Taliban faces pressure from forces apparently allied to the self-declared Islamic State and amid worsening security in Afghanistan.
Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated PressAdditional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press