Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Taliban militia won a series of victories under Mullah Omar’s leadership
The Afghan government is investigating new reports that Taliban leader Mullah Omar has died, a spokesman said.
The Taliban has yet to comment on the claim, which was made by top sources within the Afghan administration and intelligence agency.
The sources said the reclusive militant leader had died two to three years ago.
The latest claims of Mullah Omar’s death are being taken more seriously than previous such reports. The Taliban is expected to issue a statement soon.
A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday that the authorities were trying to verify the reports.
“As soon as we get any more authentication… we’re going to let the media and the people of Afghanistan know about that,” Sayed Zafar Hashemi said.
The Afghan government, elected last year, has embarked on a peace process with the Taliban.
A security official in Pakistan, the country hosting the talks, told the Associated Press news agency that the claims of Mullah Omar’s death were mere “speculation”, designed to destabilise the negotiations.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi, quoted by Sky News, said that Mullah Omar was “still alive and leading the movement”.
But a second spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, told the BBC a statement would be made in the coming hours.
Analysis – Dawood Azami, BBC World Service
Mullah Omar has not been seen in public since the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001.
The absence of confirmed contacts for several years fuelled speculation. His ill-health and even death have regularly been rumoured in the past.
Over the past two years, even some high-ranking Taliban started asking questions, both privately and within the Taliban circles, about their leader’s health, life and ability to run the insurgency.
Despite his long absence from the public view, the mystique of the man has been overwhelming. He had become a symbol and a unifying figure within the Taliban. While the day-to-day affairs have been managed by his deputies, everything else revolved around his name.
Questions about his life and whereabouts will only increase, putting pressure on the Taliban to produce credible evidence – if he is alive.
©BBC