Tensions rages among Taliban leaders

Part of Taliban leaders warned Mullah Akhtar Muhamad Mansour of electing another leader if he does not delegate his authorities to Islamic Emirate Council up to the next two days.

After the death of Taliban’s elusive founder Mullah Omar revealed after two years, many rifts widen in Taliban’s leadership.

The Taliban named Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansur as new leader of the Taliban but not (yet) as Emir of the Islamic Emirate.

Mansour, Omar’s longtime deputy who has been effectively in charge for years, favours talks to bring an end to more than 13 years of war.

However, the death of Mullah Omar has created a major leadership question, and his eldest son is said to be leading a faction which opposes Mansour, and wanted him to replace his father.

Several other commanders are said to be undecided on leadership, but unhappy on how the Quetta Shura went about choosing.

Those supportive of the Shura decision claimed Mansour was “unanimously” elected, though there was only unanimity among those still present at the time the vote was held, several commanders had walked out, and the Taliban admitted today that many weren’t even consulted on the matter.

Earlier, Mansour gave a speech calling for unity among the group, saying it would benefit their enemies to splinter now.

But now, Islamic Emirate Council warns him of disqualifying his powers.

One of senior members of the council claimed that about 80 % of armed Taliban are with them and now all are uprising against the new leader, Akhtar Muhammad Mansour.

“We have given him two days, otherwise we will clear our position and based on conditions we introduce our leader,” Mullah Abdul Raouf Akhand, member of Islamic Emirate Council said.

Opponents of Mansour criticize him for being too close to Pakistan’s military, which has long been accused of supporting the Afghan insurgency to maintain regional influence.

Despite the opposition, Mansour retains a personal power base within the Taliban, and if he can keep the movement together it could lead to a new era for the insurgents.

The divisions threaten a formal split in the Taliban. They also provide an opening to rival Islamic State (IS), the Middle East-based extremist movement that has attracted renegade Taliban commanders in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In the meantime, Afghan military analysts emphasized that Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence ISI is trying to collapse Taliban group because the agency wants to strengthen Daesh group in Afghanistan.

Afghan Taliban leaders have long had sanctuaries in Pakistan, even as Pakistani government officials have denied offering support in recent years.