Mansour’s succession issue to be resolved amicably

ISLAMABAD: Against the hopes that the Afghan Taliban movement may go in limbo over the issue of succession of droned Mulla Mansour as they had got divided in several factions over succession of Taliban movement founding chief Mullah Umar, there seems this time the issue will be resolved amicably and instead of a disarray they will pose renewed threat to the US trained Afghan security forces.

The process of succession of Mulla Mansour, Ameer of Tehrik Taliban Afghanistan has been set in motion as deputy chief of the movement dreaded fighter Haqqani network chief Sirajuddin Haqqani pulls out of the race leaving founder chief Mulla Omar’s son Mulla Yaqub as the potential candidate who may be selected in next couple of days. According to credible reports emanating from Kabul and Peshawar Sirajuddin Haqqani, a declared terrorist on the US and UN lists, declined the offer by a 50 member shura which met inside Afghanistan’s undisclosed territory but most probably in Helmand province which has recently been overran by the Taliban onslaught.

According to reports 30 year old Mulla Yaqub who was pushed to become head of the rebel faction within TTA who dismissed Mulla Mansour as successor of Mullah Umar has expressed his opinion that he would not preferable put himself to be the successor of Mulla Mansour but if the majority of TTA majlise shura elected him he will then accept it.

The defence and Afghan affairs experts view the incidents as a futile effort to make Taliban bow out and shun fighting against the security forces. They said counter productive effects will soon be evident as Taliban will re-surge with new spirit of revenge and may cause more destruction and killings in that war-ravaged country.