Taliban announce Maulvi Hibatullah Akhunzada as new chief, confirm Mansour's death

KABUL: After the death of Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who headed the Taliban after Mullah Muhammad Omar, the banned organisation has chosen Maulvi Hibatullah Akhundzada as their new Emir or chief. 

Meanwhile, senior Taliban military commander Sirajuddin Haqqani and the son of Mullah Muhammad Omar, Mullah Yaqoob, have been appointed as Deputy Supreme leaders of the organisation.

Earlier today, the Taliban officially confirmed the news that Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the successor to Mullah Omar as chief of the Afghan rebel group, had died in an American drone strike that had targeted him at Pakistan's Taftan area.

United States President Barack Obama and United States Secretary of State John Kerry had earlier confirmed the news that Mullah Akhtar Mansour had been killed in an American drone strike. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had refused to confirm the news.  

According to seasoned journalist and an expert on Afghanistan's issues, Rahimullah Yusufzai, Hibatullah's appointment as Taliban chief will not fully appease all factions within the Taliban. Yusufzai stated that some Taliban groups and factions could oppose Haibtaullah's appointment.

Rahimullah Yusufzai also said appointment of Mullah Omar's son Maulvi Yaqoob would have been acceptable to all Taliban factions.