Mullah Omar: Taliban choose deputy Mansour as successor

Some analysts say the Taliban will be divided by the appointment of Mansour as successor Mullah Omar’s leadership

The Taliban have appointed a successor to Mullah Omar, who led the movement for some 20 years, the BBC has learned.

The death of Mullah Omar – reported by the Afghan government on Wednesday – was confirmed by the Taliban on Thursday, the BBC has been told.

His deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, will replace him, sources close to the Taliban leadership said.

Correspondents say the move is likely to divide the militants, and that many senior figures opposed the appointment.

Pakistan says peace talks it was due to hold between the Afghan government and the Taliban on Friday have been postponed.

The Foreign Ministry said this was at the Taliban’s request due to uncertainty over Mullah Omar’s death.

The Taliban leader died two years ago in a Karachi hospital according to Afghanistan, but Pakistan has always denied that he was in the country.

A Taliban statement said Omar’s family had confirmed his death, but it did not say where or when it had happened. It said he had died of a “sickness”.

BBC