Amid conflict over leadership, Mullah Yaqoob takes charge of Taliban
Kabul: A top Afghanistan official has said Mullah Yaqoob, the son of Mullah Omar--founder of Afghan Taliban, has taken over as interim commander of the group.
The development occurs amid disagreements among members of the group over the leadership.
"Mullah Yaqoob (son of mullah Omar) has taken reins of Taliban movement and leading it currently. Taliban leadership is in disarray due to emerging disagreements. Several leaders are infected with COVID-19. Some members of the political office in Doha have been removed," Rahmatullah Nabil, former Director of National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan, said in a tweet.
1-/3 Mullah Yaqoob (son of mullah Omar) has taken reins of Taliban movement and leading it currently. Taliban leadership is in disarray due to emerging disagreements. Several leaders are infected with COVID-19. Some members of the political office in Doha have been removed https://t.co/N1Y2MjsypP
— Rahmatullah Nabil (@RahmatullahN) May 31, 2020
Meanwhile, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, Chief of Taliban group, may have died due to COVID-19 infection in Afghanistan, media reports said.
Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, Chief of Taliban, could be dead due to the novel Coronavirus infection in Afghanistan, a senior Taliban insider told News Intervention.
The Taliban insider added that soon after contracting COVID-19, Mullah Hibatullah had developed severe respiratory complications.
“It may be possible that Taliban could keep Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada’s death under wraps for some time before a formal announcement,” the Taliban told News Intervention.
The Taliban group did not comment on the issue so far.
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