AFGHAN’s Taliban unveiled its new leadership on the same day one of its suicide bombers killed 10 court workers during a blast in the capital Kabul yesterday.
The insurgent group said its new leader is Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, a religious scholar first bloodied for the group against the Soviet military in the 1980s.
He served as a deputy to the previous Taliban chief Akhtar Mohammad Mansour who died in a US drone strike five days ago.
It was thought the latter named him as successor in his will, viewed by some as an attempt to legitimise the transfer.
“Hibatullah Akhundzada has been appointed as the new leader of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) after a unanimous agreement in the shura (supreme council), and all the members of shura pledged allegiance to him,” the Taliban said in a statement.
Although regarded as not being as controversial as his predecessor, it is thought he could emerge as a popular choice.
A hardliner, he comes comes from the Taliban’s traditional stronghold of from Kandahar, something likely to please rank-and-file fighters.
He was involved in the Islamist resistance against the Soviet military campaign in Afghanistan, but seen more as a strong counsel to the previous leaderships rather than master tactician.
That has already caused concern among some that he will continue the path set by Mansour.
But that hasn’t stopped efforts to reach out and try to bring him round the peace table.
A spokesman for Afghanistan’s chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, urged the new Taliban leader to join talks.
Deputy spokesman Javid Faisal said: “We invite Mula Hibatullah to peace. Political settlement is the only option for the Taliban or new leadership will face the fate of Mansour,”
There seemed little immediate chance of that yesterday when a court vehicle was deliberately targeted.
Najib Danish, the interior ministry’s deputy spokesman, said the bomber, who was on foot, detonated his explosives vest as he walked by the vehicle in the Afghan capital.
He said the explosion, which took place during the morning rush hour in the western part of the city, also wounded four people.
The casualties include both court workers and civilians. The last major attack in Kabul was on April 19, when a massive bomb killed 64 people and wounded hundreds.
In a statement following the blast, the Taliban said the bombing was in “revenge for the killing of six innocent prisoners in Kabul” - a reference to the hanging of six Taliban members convicted of terrorism carried our at a local prison earlier this month.
Some had speculated a period of uncertainty following the drone killing of Mansour.
He had led the Taliban since last summer, when the death of the movement’s founder, the one-eyed Mullah Mohammad Omar became public, having already been in charge secretly in Omar’s name for more than two years.
Haibatullah Akhundzada comes with two new deputies also being appointed - both of whom had earlier been thought to be the main contenders for the top job.
They are Sirajuddin Haqqani, who was also one of Mansour’s deputies, and the son of Omar, Mullah Yaqoub.
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