Although Afghan intelligence claimed to have info that the leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, was either dead or incapacitated, the Taliban fiercely denied it.
In fact, many of their members believed him to be alive as well. Behind the scenes Taliban insiders were coving up the death in an attempt to keep stability during an unstable time.
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This week, in the Taliban’s english language magazine Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman said the following when asked who’s idea it was to cover up the death and why:
“The family of Amir ul Mumineen [Emir of the Faithful] … the responsible personnel of [the] Islamic Emirate’s Judiciary and some members of the leadership council including the leader decided on this matter together, its positive effect was that there were some critical matters and conditions of that time which could have been exacerbated with the announcement but all praise is due to Allah, we have now come out of that phase.”
The interviewer went on to imply he died in 2013, as intelligence suggested by asking how Omar commanded the war for 12 years (2001-2013) and the spokesman replied:
“was physically undertaking military activities along with several of his commanders for one year following the American invasion, he then began issuing audio statements to the Shura due to security reasons which are still present with the concerned members of the Emirate and some have even been published online.” In addition, “written letters were sent to the leadership and messengers also made rounds.”
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In an interview published on the Taliban’s official English-language website, the organization’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, admits that Mullah Omar’s death was covered up. And a careful reading of the interview indicates that Omar either died in 2013, as was first claimed by Afghan intelligence, or was otherwise incapacitated at that time.
The Taliban interviewer asks Mujahid: “Exactly whose decision was it to hide the passing away of Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid? [A]nd what were its advantages to the Taliban?”
“The family of Amir ul Mumineen [Emir of the Faithful] … the responsible personnel of [the] Islamic Emirate’s Judiciary and some members of the leadership council including the leader decided on this matter together,” Mujahid responds. “Its positive effect was that there were some critical matters and conditions of that time which could have been exacerbated with the announcement but all praise is due to Allah, we have now come out of that phase.”
The “leader” of the Taliban’s “leadership council” is Mullah Omar’s successor, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, who has been described as the “acting head” of the council in official statements.
