TALIBAN leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has been dead for more than two years, according to Afghan officials.

Abdul Hassib Seddiqi, spokesman for Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security, said that Mullah Omar died in a hospital in the Pakistani city of Karachi in April 2013.

“We confirm officially that he is dead,” he said.

The confirmation comes two days before the Afghan government and the Taliban are to hold their second round of official peace talks in Pakistan.

It was not clear why his death was only being announced now and the Taliban could not be reached for comment.