KABUL (SW): Taliban in Afghanistan announced to have appointed the son and brother of heir former chief Mullah Omar at key posts.
According to the Taliban’s website, a special meeting was convened in which the leader, council members, high ranking officials and military heads participated.
It noted that the council members appointed the brother and leadership council member of Mullah Muhammad Umar, Mullah Abdul Manan as the head of Dawat wa Irshad (Preaching and Guidance) Commission and his elder son, Mawlawi Muhammad Yaqoub as a leadership council member as well as the military chief of 15 provinces in the Commission for military setup.
Waheed Mujda, an analyst, said about this development that it is aimed at countering the chances of further splits in their ranks. He added that Mullah Omar’s son Mullah Yakub has obtained religious studies in Pakistan and has no military experience. About Mullah Manan, Mujda said that he has been given a symbolic post only.
Commenting on the development, Radmanesh, a deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, said that it is just propaganda. He went on to say that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are fully committed to safeguard the country against the militants’ new offensives.
Following the revealation of Mullah Omar’s death, splits emerged in the ranks of the Taliban.
Masoud Andarabi, interim head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), told the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) last month that the militants are backed by Pakistan’s intelligence agency and are planning to wage nationwide attacks dubbed as “Shafaq”.
ENDS
