KABUL (SW): Well-placed sourced have told SW that the Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Mohammad Omar had chosen his successor in a will that the mysterious leader wrote before his death.
Earlier, the Kabul government confirmed that Mullah Omar had died two years ago.
“The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, based on credible information, confirms that Mullah Mohammad Omar, leader of the Taliban died in April 2013 in Pakistan”, a message by Presidential Palace in Kabul said.
The government of Afghanistan believes that grounds for the Afghan peace talks are more paved now than before, and thus calls on all armed opposition groups to seize the opportunity and join the peace process, it added
Sources told SW Omar has chosen his close aide Mulla Biradar as the future head of Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan. The said will of Omar has asked the militant commanders to consider Biradar as their leader and follow his decisions in true spirit.
Mullah Ahmad Akhund is the real name of Mulla Biradar who is believed to be under the custody of Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies. Biradar is among the founding leaders of Taliban movement and served as deputy defense minister.
Biradar was believed to be residing in Karachi since 2003 before his arrest there in 2010 following a joint U.S. and Pakistan intelligence operation. Afghanistan repeatedly asked Pakistan to hand Birader over but though the man was freed in 2013 but he is still believed to be under the control of Pakistan’s intelligence.
This close aide of the deceased Taliban Supreme Leader is believed to have sufficient influence over the militant movement and is inclined towards peace talks with the Kabul government.
Government sources told SW they hope Biradar would take part in the second round of landmark peace talks scheduled for Friday July 31.
ENDS
