KABUL - The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Wednesday claimed the Taliban had lost the morale to continue insurgency following the death of their supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Mullah Omar’s death was announced last week by the Taliban, but they did not say when he died. However, the Afghan government had claimed the reclusive Taliban leader died in a Karachi hospital in April 2013.

Confirming Mullah Omar’s demise, the Taliban in a statement said Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Masnour had been elected as the group’s new supreme leader.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi told a joint press conference with Defence Ministry’s deputy spokesman Gen. Dawlat Waziri that the Taliban had lost the morale to fight on after the death of their supreme leader.

“Now there is a good chance for peace and peace talks, otherwise the war against the insurgents will be further intensified,” the official said.

He further warned the Taliban to renounce violence and join the peace process to avoid being killed by the Afghan forces.

Gen. Waziri also said the insurgents had lost the courage to continue fighting had collapsed amid widespread security operations against them.

“Widespread operations in all of the country are underway in against the Taliban. In the past 24 hours alone, 44 militants were killed and another seven injured during these operations in various parts of the country,” he added.

He said the dead militants included a commander identified as Juma. He said the Afghan military also lost six personnel during the past 24 hours. (Pajhwok)