The Afghan government has confirmed reports that Taliban leader Mullah Omar died two years ago, news that is likely to threaten fragile peace talks as well as the future of the terrorist group.
Rumours of Omar's death have circulated for years, but a White House spokesperson said the US government believed that the latest report was "credible".
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The apparent confirmation of his death comes at a turbulent time for the Taliban, which has splintered as conflicting ideologies have emerged.
"Different Taliban groups are breaking away from the central Taliban organisation," Graeme Smith, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group in Kabul told Radio Free Europe. "His death is going to fuel the factionalism that we are already seeing."
The Taliban has also been struggling to keep its militants – many of whom were frustrated with the lack of interaction with their leader – from defecting to Islamic State and other rival Islamist groups, say experts.
If their leader is dead, the militants' religious vows of loyalty would be void, and they will "have no reason to stick it out anymore," Michael Kugelman, an Afghanistan expert with the Wilson Center in Washington, told Al Jazeera America. "[IS] should be very happy about this announcement," he said. "I think this could really drive up recruitment in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
The announcement will also intensify the battle for control within the Taliban. "There is already a nasty power struggle, " says Smith. "That will get more vicious after Omar's death."
Local reports suggest that the group's deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansur, has already been appointed as the new leader. But a senior Afghan Taliban commander has told Reuters that group's leadership was "at a crossroads" and resolving the succession issue may take time.
What it means for the peace talks
President Ashraf Ghani's has staked his political reputation on controversial negotiations aimed at ending decades of war with the group. Announcing Omar's death, the Afghan government said it believed the grounds for peace talks "are more paved now than before" and called on all armed opposition groups to "seize the opportunity” and join the peace process.
But there is growing confusion about the Taliban's willingness to enter into talks with the government. Earlier this month a statement purportedly from Omar expressed support for the negotiations, but the Taliban's official spokesman today said the group was "not aware" of the latest round of peace talks due to take place in Pakistan on Friday, indicating they would not take part.
Many have also questioned the timing of the government's announcements of Omar's death. "My sense is that someone wanted to sabotage the peace talks," says Kugelman. "Why would the Afghan government, which so deeply wants peace, make this announcement now? It's a mystery."
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