Is Taliban leader Mullah Omar dead?
Reports are circulating that Mullah Omar is dead. However, reports of the deaths of Taliban regional commanders often turn out to be wrong. There are only a few photos of the reclusive Taliban chief; he’s been in hiding, probably in Pakistan, since the US drove his group out of Afghanistan in late 2001, early 2002. Ordinarily, the death of a militant leader is not as significant as often thought. As Charles de Gaulle once said, cemeteries are filed with indispensable people. However, the Taliban is presently divided over internationalism and possible peace negotiations. Omar is thought to have been the final arbiter of fierce debates in the Taliban shura and without him, a nasty power struggle might ensue.
If he is dead, someone or a clique is running the Taliban. There is a concerted offensive in North Afghanistan and there’s an effort to find a negotiated settlement.
A Taliban commander has confirmed the death of Mullah Omar and the succession of Mullah Akhtar Mansour. The new leader supports peace talks, which has incurred the wrath of other high-ranking Taliban leaders. Some may shift support to ISIL which has a marginal presence in Afghanistan. The more mainstream Taliban may quash their breakaway leaders by attacking them or giving away their positions to the US.