[DAWN] The leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Omar, has died, a report on the BBC website quoted unnamed Afghan government sources as saying on Wednesday. The report said that the reclusive one-eyed leader of the militant organisation had died two to three years ago.The body's starting to stink, is it? Shoulda had him freeze dried.
The Afghan Taliban and sources close to the insurgent group’s mediators, who are holding talks with the Afghan government in Pakistan, insist that the Taliban chief has not died, according to a report on the Voice of America website.
"'e's just pinin' for the fjords!"
Mullah Omar “is very much alive” and the rumors of his death are aimed at drawing out the reclusive leader, a Taliban spokesman was quoted by the VOA as saying.
If you can't beleve theTaliban who can you believe?
Meanwhile, an Afghan government official said that an emergency press conference had been called on the subject of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, amid rumours of his death. The official, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to give statements to the press, did not provide further details but added that Kabul was investigating his reported death.
Did I read that right? An unidentified Kabul official calls a press conference to report nothing much but sez they've got 'top people' on it
Another senior Afghan government official quoting a senior Taliban leader said the reclusive leader of the Afghan Taliban had died of multiple organ failure a year and a half ago and was subsequently buried in Kandahar.
To all those who prayed for sepsis, a great big thank you.
He further said that an 8-member Taliban Shura will hold a meeting to choose Omar's successor for six month to one year and added that there are no clear contenders at the moment but many senior taliban leaders are being considered for the post.
He'll probably inherit the Profit's carpet slippers and face mask.
| Update from Tolo News at 3 pm ET: |
"The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, based on credible information,
| ...carefully left undefined... |
| Some some speculation about possible heirs to the crown, then: |
This year's Taliban Eid message, which was reportedly written quite politely compared to previous notes, was however welcomed by the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.