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| Taliban officially announces death of Mullah Omar | Taliban officially announces death of Mullah Omar |
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| The Taliban have officially announced the death of their founder and spiritual leader Mullah Omar. | The Taliban have officially announced the death of their founder and spiritual leader Mullah Omar. |
| The confirmation of Omar’s death comes after months of increased speculation about his whereabouts. The Afghan government on Wednesday claimed it had credible intelligence that Omar died more than two years ago. After a day of silence, the Taliban confirmed his death, quoting family members. | The confirmation of Omar’s death comes after months of increased speculation about his whereabouts. The Afghan government on Wednesday claimed it had credible intelligence that Omar died more than two years ago. After a day of silence, the Taliban confirmed his death, quoting family members. |
| Reuters reported that a leadership council in Pakistan has appointed Omar’s deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, to head the movement. | Reuters reported that a leadership council in Pakistan has appointed Omar’s deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, to head the movement. |
| “The shura [council] held outside Quetta unanimously elected Mullah Mansoor as the new emir of the Taliban,” a senior, anonymous Afghan Taliban commander told Reuters. | |
| The official Taliban statement did not mention a successor but stated that Omar died of illness a while ago, without specifying when. It also claimed that he never left Afghanistan, from where he continued to lead the movement. That assertion is at odds with a widespread perception that Omar was living in hiding in Karachi. | |
| Omar’s death could throw the movement into upheaval. Already a splintered organisation, most Taliban collectively looked to Omar as a unifying figure. | Omar’s death could throw the movement into upheaval. Already a splintered organisation, most Taliban collectively looked to Omar as a unifying figure. |
| Mansoor has led the insurgency in day-to-day operations for years, but lacks Omar’s legitimacy as a spiritual leader. It is thought that some factions of the Taliban have pushed for Omar’s son to succeed him, and they might see Mansoor as a choice of certain wings of the movement close to Pakistan. | Mansoor has led the insurgency in day-to-day operations for years, but lacks Omar’s legitimacy as a spiritual leader. It is thought that some factions of the Taliban have pushed for Omar’s son to succeed him, and they might see Mansoor as a choice of certain wings of the movement close to Pakistan. |
| The ghost-like Omar, who led the movement since its inception in 1994, shunned publicity and disappeared completely from public view after his government was toppled in 2001. | The ghost-like Omar, who led the movement since its inception in 1994, shunned publicity and disappeared completely from public view after his government was toppled in 2001. |
| Rumours of his death have circulated for more than a decade, causing the movement to fracture. Disgruntled ground commanders had pressed the leadership for proof Omar was alive. Some have formed their own splinter groups, a few of whom have pledged allegiance to Islamic State. | Rumours of his death have circulated for more than a decade, causing the movement to fracture. Disgruntled ground commanders had pressed the leadership for proof Omar was alive. Some have formed their own splinter groups, a few of whom have pledged allegiance to Islamic State. |
| The turmoil in the Taliban comes at a time when the Afghan government and representatives of the insurgency are exploring ways to restart peace talks. | The turmoil in the Taliban comes at a time when the Afghan government and representatives of the insurgency are exploring ways to restart peace talks. |
| Two weeks ago, a statement purportedly from Omar endorsed the talks, in an attempt to unify the movement behind reconciliation efforts. The announcement of his death could pit hardliners against those who favour a negotiated solution to the conflict. | Two weeks ago, a statement purportedly from Omar endorsed the talks, in an attempt to unify the movement behind reconciliation efforts. The announcement of his death could pit hardliners against those who favour a negotiated solution to the conflict. |
| On Thursday, at the request of the Taliban leadership, the Pakistani government issued a statement postponing the second round of peace talks, which had been slated for Friday. | On Thursday, at the request of the Taliban leadership, the Pakistani government issued a statement postponing the second round of peace talks, which had been slated for Friday. |