Mullah Omar Killed in Pakistan
Mullah Omar's death in Pakistan are greatly exaggerated: Taliban
A report that the mysterious, one-eyed Taliban leader Mullah Omar has been killed led to staunch denials by the militant group Monday, which claimed he is alive and well.
Afghan news channel Tolo, citing intelligence sources, reported that Omar was shot dead in Pakistan while being moved to a tribal area that is a known refuge to militants.
But a Taliban spokesman said the report was false.
"This is absolutely wrong. It's only propaganda and we completely deny theses rumors," said Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. "He is inside Afghanistan and he is busy directing military operations with his commanders."
The report stated that a former Pakistani intelligence chief, Gen. Hamid Gul, had been helping Omar relocate when he was killed.
Gul also said the report was bogus.
"This is propaganda, sheer deception, disinformation," he said. "I have never met him. I've never seen him. No contact whatsoever."
The report comes amid heightened speculation that the U.S. would move quickly to rout out Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership based off intelligence gained in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.
U.S. and NATO officials said they were aware of the report but could neither confirm nor deny it.
Afghan intelligence officials confirmed that they believed Omar had been moved to North Waziristan two days ago and had been silent since then.
"Since the transfer, our sources tell us that there has been no contact between Mullah Omar and the leadership of the Taliban," said spokesman Latifullah Mashal.
NATO spokesman Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz said Taliban claims of responsibility for several recent attacks in Afghanistan - including at a military hospital - were inflated.
"The Taliban falsely claimed responsibility because in their weakened state, they need to project that they still have power and relevance," he said.
A report that the mysterious, one-eyed Taliban leader Mullah Omar has been killed led to staunch denials by the militant group Monday, which claimed he is alive and well.
Afghan news channel Tolo, citing intelligence sources, reported that Omar was shot dead in Pakistan while being moved to a tribal area that is a known refuge to militants.
But a Taliban spokesman said the report was false.
"This is absolutely wrong. It's only propaganda and we completely deny theses rumors," said Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. "He is inside Afghanistan and he is busy directing military operations with his commanders."
The report stated that a former Pakistani intelligence chief, Gen. Hamid Gul, had been helping Omar relocate when he was killed.
Gul also said the report was bogus.
"This is propaganda, sheer deception, disinformation," he said. "I have never met him. I've never seen him. No contact whatsoever."
The report comes amid heightened speculation that the U.S. would move quickly to rout out Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership based off intelligence gained in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.
U.S. and NATO officials said they were aware of the report but could neither confirm nor deny it.
Afghan intelligence officials confirmed that they believed Omar had been moved to North Waziristan two days ago and had been silent since then.
"Since the transfer, our sources tell us that there has been no contact between Mullah Omar and the leadership of the Taliban," said spokesman Latifullah Mashal.
NATO spokesman Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz said Taliban claims of responsibility for several recent attacks in Afghanistan - including at a military hospital - were inflated.
"The Taliban falsely claimed responsibility because in their weakened state, they need to project that they still have power and relevance," he said.
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