The Afghan Taliban released a new audio message Saturday that it claims is from leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, who claims hat he is alive and safe.
"I have recorded this message to let everyone know that I am alive," the man believed to be Mansour said in a 16-minute Pashto language message, according to AFP. However, there was no independent verification of Mansour's voice in the massage.
The message came after a senior Afghanistan government official claimed that the Taliban leader had been killed in a gunfight in Pakistan.
"There is no truth in the rumours that I was either injured or killed in the infighting at Pakistan's Kuchlak area," the person in the message said, according to Xinhua. "This is the enemy's propaganda. The enemy has launched the propaganda to claim that the Taliban differences have led to infighting. I want to assure that there had been no incident of gunfight," stated Mansour.
A Pakistani news channel reported Friday that the Taliban has appointed Moulavi Haibatullah Akhunzada as the new caretaker chief following the death of Mansour in a shootout on Tuesday, according to Times of India.
Mansour's leadership has been challenged by a faction of the Taliban led by Mullah Mohamed Rasool. He was elected Afghan Taliban chief on July 31 after the terror group confirmed the death of Mullah Omar.
