Afghanistan War Over

If so, the media neglected to let me know.

People like you hate Muslims.

The Afghan government is investigating new reports that Taliban leader Mullah Omar has died, a spokesman said.

The Taliban has yet to comment on the claim, which was made by top sources within the Afghan administration and intelligence agency.

The sources said the reclusive militant leader had died two to three years ago.

The latest claims of Mullah Omar's death are being taken more seriously than previous such reports. The Taliban is expected to issue a statement soon.

A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday that the authorities were trying to verify the reports.




"As soon as we get any more authentication... we're going to let the media and the people of Afghanistan know about that," Sayed Zafar Hashemi said.

The Afghan government, elected last year, has embarked on a peace process with the Taliban.

A security official in Pakistan, the country hosting the talks, told the Associated Press news agency that the claims of Mullah Omar's death were mere "speculation", designed to destabilise the negotiations.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi, quoted by Sky News, said that Mullah Omar was "still alive and leading the movement".

But a second spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, told the BBC a statement would be made in the coming hours.

The Taliban have appointed a successor to Mullah Omar, their leader who was reported dead by the Afghan government on Wednesday, the BBC has been told.

Mullah Akhtar Mansour, Mullah Omar's deputy, will replace him, sources close to the Taliban leadership said.

Correspondents say the move is likely to divide the militants, and that many senior figures opposed the appointment.

Pakistan says peace talks it was due to hold between the Afghan government and the Taliban have been postponed.

The Taliban had earlier distanced themselves from the talks, which correspondents said was a further sign of division within the group.

It is thought some in the Taliban would have preferred Omar's son to succeed him, and accuse circles within the movement close to Pakistan of imposing Mullah Mansour on them.

There has been no confirmation yet from Pakistan on Omar's death.

The Taliban leader died two years ago in a Karachi hospital according to Afghanistan, but Pakistan has always denied that he was in the country.