Taliban has been the epitome of violence, atrocity, human and women right violation, oppression, mass killing. In the quest to establish Islamic Emirate in the war wrecked Afghanistan they turned upside down and devastated every infrastructure, institutions, historic monuments, holy shrines that did not fit their interpretation –they deemed would curb their version of Islam. The decade long insurgency was led by Mullah Omar whose demise has left the movement in sixes and seven.
Earlier the day along the rumors of suspected death of a renowned decade long leader of Afghan insurgency turned a myth that ended with confirmation from senior Taliban leaders and Afghan government alike. Out of all, death of the Taliban’s ghost leader may defect the peace process –given the demise of Taliban’s central leadership may result into unending quest of accession to power between leaders with variant degree of popularity among on ground Taliban. The fact being is –his presence unifies and makes all the splintered factions oblige by the commandments of a sole leadership. His death may turn an indigestible chunk, marks the beginning of endless internal strife.
Subsequent to the news of demise of supreme leader of Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour was notified as successor to the late Mullah Omar by Taliban Council. Mullah Mansour, who is in his mid-50s, served as head of the aviation department during the Taliban government and after their ouster from power remained the shadow governor of Kandahar and deputy to Mullah Omar. He also headed the political and military division of Taliban, have had direct contact with the field commanders. Subsequent to this development Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed in a statement the appointment of Mansour as the new Taliban chief.
Following his appointment Mullah Akhthar Mansoor released a 33-minute audio message –he called for unity in the movement. The central issue he tried to elucidate in his message was talks of unity amongst ranks of Taliban. Undoubtedly, the selection of the new leader without consulting some war leaders have resulted in creation of rift between them that likely discredited the appointment of Mullah Mansooor.
The message that surfaced earlier contained talks on the same subject where the new Taliban chief was found saying, “the insurgency will continue and advises his followers not to pay attention to rumors spread about the Taliban campaign.” Another important thing he stressed was the unabated continuation of jihad until the goal was met that is said to be the implementation of Shariah and Islamic system. The audio message from Mansoor also mentioned peace talks with the Afghan government, though it was not clear whether he supported them.
Nonetheless, the said apprehension turned truth; following a rare heard Taliban spokesman Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi termed Mullah Mansour’s appointment against the standard operating procedure of Taliban’s where the chief’s assortment is referred to a credible council and whose decision is deemed ultimate. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Quetta Shoora also termed this appointment an ISI’s plot bothered not to consult them. According to the reports, Abdul Qayoum Zakir, Taliban’s military head; Mullah Habibullah, a member of Taliban Quetta Shura; and Sayed Tayib Agha, head of Taliban’s political office in Qatar are among the senior Taliban members that are opposed to the appointment of Mansour.
According to credible media reports the neighboring country has played a significant role in orchestrating the overall developments and is deemed to have been undeniably behind the plot. Afghanistan since long has been demanding Pakistan to exercise its influence and make Taliban come on table of negotiation. Pakistan seems to have responded to this call by staging the former round of talks that took place in Murree. In the Murree talks last month between Afghan government and Taliban in an attempt to work towards a peace process for the war-ravaged nation, though the second round of talks that had been expected in Pakistan on Friday was postponed following the announcement of the death of Mullah Omar. The second round of talk is likely to take place imminently but let the dust of confusion relative to appointment of new emir get settled.
At the last couple of moments, the news emerged pertaining reappointment of new Taliban chief after finding Mulah Mansoor controversial. According to latest reports the council has given Akhtar Mansoor some time to “give up” the top position. This decision is taken in the greater interest of the movement to avoid any confrontation amongst it ranks and keep Taliban united at the peak hours when Taliban is to present its demand to Kabul government and give up a decade long insurgency. In the meanwhile Mullah Omar’s family has too announced not to support any group if the leaders failed to agree on the chief unanimously. The family members also declined to back Akhtar Mansoor who was one of the trusted leaders of Mullah Omar subsequent to emergence of conflict. It is said any appointment made based on broader consensus between Taliban leaders will earn support from all factions of Taliban including family member of slain de facto Taliban former leader. “We will serve the new leader if he is elected with consensus but will not support anyone including Mullah Akhtar Mansoor if the leaders failed to demonstrate unity,” Omar’s family said.
The world waits to see whether Taliban incumbent leaders can succeed to install unity in their ranks and agree to elect a leader base on mutual consensus without a bit of emergence of disparity and clash of interest. If they succeed installing conformity amongst their ranks there will be greater likelihood of winning the forthcoming peace talks head to congenial solution else the bloody conflict ensue endlessly.