Six things we need to know about Mullah Omar

Here are six things we need to know about the reclusive chief of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Mohammad Omar.

#1. Has not been seen in public since 2001: Although the militant group repeatedly issued statements claiming to be coming from their chief, Omar has not been seen on any public platform since 2001.

#2. He probably died much earlier: Even when there were reports of his deaths in the past, the Afghan officials released a statement only today that says he died two years ago. But, the militant group is yet to comment on it.

#3. He was wanted by US authorities: According to the official website of the National Counterterrorism Center in the US, “Mullah Omar’s Taliban regime in Afghanistan sheltered Osama Bin Ladin and his Al-Qa‘ida network in the years prior to the September 11 attacks. Although Operation Enduring Freedom removed the Taliban regime from power, Mullah Omar remains at large and represents a continuing threat to the United States and its allies.” In view of this, US also announced a bounty worth $10 million on him.

#4. Approved of peace talks with the Afghan government: In a recent statement issued by the Taliban on their official website on the occasion of Eid, Omar says, “If we look into our religious regulations, we can find that meetings and even peaceful interactions with the enemies is not prohibited." In his statement, he gave his approval for the process of a peace dialogue with the Afghan government, referring to them as “legitimate”.

#5. Possible implications of his death: As the supreme chief of the Afghan Taliban who endorsed peace talks with the Afghan government, his death would mean widening rifts within the group which in turn could destabilise peace in Afghanistan.

#6. Relations with ISIS: Although the two groups share similar ideology of jihad, the IS chief Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi called Mullah Omar in a  statement in April this year,  “a fool and illiterate warlord” who was unworthy of “religious or political credibility”.