A prominent Taliban commander and member of the group’s leadership council ‘Rahbari Shura’ Mullah Abdul Qayoum Zakir has ended rifts with Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor.
An online statement published by Taliban on Wednesday states that Mullah Zakir pledges allegiance to the new leader.
The statement dated today carries Mullah Abdul Qayoum Zakir’s name at the bottom.
When the death of Mullah Mohammad Omar was confirmed in late July last year, a group of Taliban commanders announced Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour as their next leader but some others including Mullah Zakir opposed the appointment.
Mullah Abdul Qayoum Zakir once headed Taliban’s military commission but stepped down due to differences with Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor.
He was a US prisoner at the detention cap of Guantanamo Bay.
