KABUL: The Taliban on Thursday confirmed the death of their leader Mullah Omar but did not say when or where he died. The statement says “his [Mullah Omar's] health condition deteriorated in the last two weeks” and “not for a single day did he go to Pakistan”.

The statement went on to say that three days of religious ceremonies would be held “to pray for the soul of Mullah Omar”.

The militants said Omar died of “sickness”, citing family members, contradicting the Afghan government's stance that the one-eyed warrior-cleric had passed away in the Pakistani city Karachi. Afghanistan's premier intelligence agency had also claimed Omar died in a Karachi hospital in April 2013.

Take a look: Mullah Omar died in Karachi in April 2013: Afghan govt.

Omar's death marks a significant blow to the Taliban, which is riven by internal divisions and threatened by the rise of the self-styled Islamic State group, the Middle East jihadist outfit that is making steady inroads in Afghanistan.

“The leadership of the Islamic Emirate and the family of Mullah Omar... announce that leader Mullah Omar died due to a sickness,” a Taliban statement said, using the movement's official name.

The Taliban, who were faced with the tricky process of choosing a successor to the near-mythical figure who led them for some 20 years, appointed Mullah Akhtar Mansoor as their new supreme leader earlier today.

According to DawnNews sources, the Afghan Taliban held meetings Wednesday night, after the reported death of Mullah Omar, and after consultation between members of the Shura Council, elected Mansoor as their new chief.

Mansoor was previously Omar’s deputy, and was running the 20-member council after Omar’s death.

Read: Afghan Taliban Shura elects new emir.

Omar's son Mullah Yakoub was favoured by some commanders, sources said, but at 26 he was considered too young and inexperienced for such a key role.

Meanwhile, a fresh round of peace talks between the militants and the Afghan government, planned for Friday in Pakistan, has been postponed, according to Islamabad.

A Foreign Office statement on Thursday said the Taliban leadership had asked for the postponement “in view of the reports regarding the death of Mullah Omar and the resulting uncertainty”.

But the militants in a statement today appear to distance themselves from the process, casting doubt over its possible effectiveness.

“Media outlets are circulating reports that peace talks will take place very soon... either in the country of China or Pakistan,” the Taliban said in an English-language statement posted on their website on Thursday.

“(Our) political office... are not aware of any such process.”

Read: Peace talks in jeopardy: Afghan Taliban postpone second round of talks.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...