Taliban's
Mullah Omar died of natural causes in Afghanistan, son says
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[September 14, 2015]
By Jibran Ahmad
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Mullah
Omar, founder of the Afghan Taliban, died of natural causes in
Afghanistan, his son said in a statement calling for unity and quashing
rumors about his father's mysterious death amid a leadership dispute.
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The dispute within the Taliban threatens a fledgling peace process
with the Afghan government and may open the way for Islamic State to
expand its toehold of influence.
The Taliban in July officially confirmed Mullah Omar had been dead
for more than two years, after the Afghan spy agency leaked the
news. The next day, a hastily convened meeting appointed Omar's
deputy, Mullah Mansour, as leader.
Many commanders and Omar's family were unhappy with the appointment.
Some question why Mansour concealed news of Omar's death for two
years. He said it was necessary to preserve unity amid the 2014 NATO
withdrawal. Rumours have multiplied amid the splits.
"I wanted to assure you that he died a natural death," Omar's eldest
son, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, said in an audio tape released on
Sunday night and authenticated by Taliban sources.
"He had been sick for some time but his condition deteriorated," he
said. "We made enquiries from the doctors, it seems he was suffering
from HCV (Hepatitis C).
"He stayed in Afghanistan even after the US-led invasion of
Afghanistan. He died there and was laid to rest there."
The tape, Yaqoob's first public audio statement, rejected the idea
that his father had appointed a successor, in an apparent jab at
Mansour.
"He had not appointed any one as his successor," he said.
Mansour, a strong tactician backed by some of the most powerful
field commanders, enjoys good relations with neighboring Pakistan,
which is often accused of backing the insurgency.
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But Mansour's willingness to join in Pakistan-backed peace talks
with the Afghan government this year sparked fears among some
commanders, who worry he is too close to Pakistani intelligence
officials.
The Afghan insurgents fear Pakistan wants to manipulate their
movement for its own ends, worries Yaqoob referred to.
"Our enemy is the U.S.-backed Afghan government," he said. "There
are some Islamic countries which are also standing alongside our
enemies."
Some militias affiliated to the Taliban have already pledged
allegiance to Islamic State, the group dominating Iraq and Syria.
Yaqoob, 27, stopped short of claiming the leadership.
"If unity can return with my death, I am willing to carry out
suicide," he said. "We are ready for whatever order the council
gives us. We are ready to work in any capacity, whether on a high
level or a lower level."
(Writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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