Afghanistan Taliban faction gets new leader

A splinter faction of the Afghan Taliban has selected its own leader to challenge the new chief of the militant group, two insurgent commanders said on Monday, raising fresh doubts about chances of breathing life into stalled peace talks.

The Taliban, battling to oust foreign forces and the US-backed government from Afghanistan, were thrown into turmoil in July when the death of their long-term leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, was announced. Omar’s deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, took charge but there was grumbling in the ranks and some analysts have attributed big Taliban attacks in recent months to a bid by Mansour to establish his reputation as leader and stamp his authority over the group.

A commander within the dissident faction said they had chosen Mullah Mohammad Rasool Akhund as their leader and they would not fight Mansour but would keep their focus on old enemies.

“We ... have chosen our own leader to lead the mujahideen against US-led foreign forces,” said the commander. A spokesperson for Mansour was not available but a second militant commander said Akhund was a Taliban veteran. “He is one among the old Taliban leaders. He spent 10 years with Mullah Omar and was one of his trusted men,” he said.