Taliban Fighters Are In Disarray With The Death Of Their Leader

Taliban leader Mullah Omar. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Wall Street Journal: Taliban Leadership Rift Seeps Down to Fighters

Power struggle sows confusion in the field, raises concerns about potential defections to Islamic State

KABUL—A power struggle has emerged within Afghanistan’s Taliban following the death of their supreme commander, causing confusion among foot soldiers and sowing fears that some might defect to Islamic State.

Just a few people within the Taliban knew of Mullah Mohammad Omar’s death until it was revealed with certainty last week, first by the Afghan government, which said it occurred in April 2013, and a day later by the Taliban. For years, the movement’s leadership continued to issue orders and statements in the name of their deceased founder.

Now the costs of that coverup are starting to become clear.

“Most ordinary Taliban feel like they’ve been deceived by their leaders,” said a Taliban commander in the eastern Afghan province of Khost. “We were kept in dark, and now we don’t know who to follow.”

The commander added that “disagreements between senior leaders are further discouraging fighters,” many of whom say they are tired of war after 14 years.

Update #1: Will Mullah Omar's Death Change the Taliban? -- Sanjay Kumar, The Diplomat
Update #2: Former Afghan warlord says Taliban weaker amid infighting -- AP

WNU Editor: The death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar is a game changer. He was more than just a man who lead a movement .... he was also for many Taliban fighters a legacy whose position demanded (and got) unquestionable loyalty. But he is now gone, and his replacement (s) do not match that legacy. I do expect more fissures and disagreements to occur within the Taliban, the question that needs to be answered is how will the Afghan government take advantage of this opportunity, and will the Islamic State be the eventual winner in the event that the Taliban does break-up.