{"id":139730,"date":"2015-08-01T14:00:43","date_gmt":"2015-08-01T14:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=139730"},"modified":"2015-08-01T12:34:58","modified_gmt":"2015-08-01T12:34:58","slug":"new-taliban-leader-calls-for-unity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/08\/new-taliban-leader-calls-for-unity\/","title":{"rendered":"New Taliban Leader calls for unity"},"content":{"rendered":"
The new leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, has called for unity in an audio message, saying that the group will continue fighting.<\/p>\n
Mullah Mansour was named as the new leader on Thursday, after the death of former head Mullah Omar was confirmed.<\/p>\n
But a Taliban spokesman told the BBC he had not been appointed “by all Taliban”, going against Sharia law.<\/p>\n
The audio message said fighters should unite as “division in our ranks will only please our enemies”.<\/p>\n
It also said that the Taliban would “continue our jihad until we bring an Islamic rule in the country”.<\/p>\n
The 30-minute recording was released to journalists by Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Some Taliban figures have accused pro-Pakistani circles of imposing Mullah Mansour, who is known for his support for peace talks, on them.<\/p>\n
But in the audio message, Mullah Mansour dismissed peace talks as “propaganda campaigns by the enemy”.<\/p>\n
At least one Taliban faction would have preferred Mullah Omar to be succeeded by his son.<\/p>\n
Another Taliban spokesman, Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi, said those who elected Mullah Mansour had not followed the rules.<\/p>\n
“According to Islamic rule and principles, when a leader dies, a Shura (council) is called, then its leader is appointed,” he added.<\/p>\n