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| Afghanistan |
| Taliban leaders swear allegiance to Mullah Mansour |
| 2015-08-02 |
| [DAWN] Amidst reports of divisions in Taliban ranks over the choice of their chief, the group's supreme council notified Mullah Akhtar Mansour as successor to the late Mullah Omar ... a minor Pashtun commander in the war against the Soviets who made good as leader of the Taliban. As ruler of Afghanistan, he took the title Leader of the Faithful. The imposition of Pashtunkhwa on the nation institutionalized ignorance and brutality in a country already notable for its own fair share of ignorance and brutality... and named his two deputies on Friday. "The supreme council agreed that he is the appropriate and eligible person, according to the requirements of Shariah, to lead the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," a statement issued by front man Zabihullah Mujahid said on behalf of the Taliban shura. The statement described Mullah Mansour as 'Emir-ul-Momineen' or the 'leader of the faithful' -- a tag used by Mullah Omar during his life. The appointment had been reported a day earlier but the council announced his designation as the emir on Friday. Thursday's statement by the Taliban front man, confirming the reports about the death of Mullah Omar, had said nothing about the news of Mullah Mansour's appointment. But on Friday, the front man said Mullah Mansour was 'a close and trusted friend' of Mullah Omar and deputised during his life. He said the choice had been made by the Taliban supreme council and leading holy mans of Afghanistan. Mullah Mansour, who is in his mid-fifties, served as head of the aviation department during the Taliban government and after their ouster from power remained the shadow governor of Kandahar. Within the organization, he remained on the supreme council and deputy to Mullah Omar. He also headed the political and military division of Taliban, because of which he has been maintaining direct contact with the field commanders. The elders, religious scholars and notables also swore allegiance to him after his election, the front man said. Although the statement suggested that the election had taken place smoothly, sources in the krazed killer group gave a different account and claimed that several key commanders had opposed his nomination and boycotted the meeting. |
| Posted by:Fred |