Five will get you ten that this rift means that Omar has left the country. 5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires
Posted on 08/09/2004 1:57:09 PM PDT by HAL9000
CHAMAN, Pakistan, Aug 9 (Reuters) - A rift has emerged in the ranks of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban militia, with members of the breakaway faction saying they no longer recognise fugitive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.Sabir Momin, who was the Taliban's deputy operations commander in southern Afghanistan, said on Monday the dissident group is named Taliban Jamiat Jaish-e-Muslimeen (Muslim Army of the Taliban).
Momin told Reuters the faction had the support of about one third of Taliban fighters, and did not recognise the one-eyed Mullah Omar, one of the world's most wanted men for helping shelter Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network until late 2001.
Momin did not say how many insurgents there were in the Taliban.
Momin added that the new group was being led by Mulla Syed Mohammad Akbar Aga, a 45-year-old commander from the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.
Mullah Omar is also from Kandahar, the Taliban's stronghold before the hardline Islamic militia was ousted by U.S.-led forces in 2001.
Mullah Manzoor, a spokesman for the dissident group, said Omar had lost control of senior military commanders.
"The objective of our group is not to weaken the jihad ("holy war"), but to strengthen it," he said.
"More groups can also be formed. Our aim is jihad. There will be no let up in our jihadi activities while American forces remain in Afghanistan."
More than 900 people have died in Afghan violence in the past year, most of it blamed on Taliban remnants.
As well as its "jihad" on foreign and Afghan troops, it has vowed to disrupt elections planned for October and April.
The United States provides the bulk of an 18,000-strong force hunting Taliban and al Qaeda militants.
OMAR'S SIDE SAYS TALIBAN INTACT
According to Momin, the Taliban militia was beset by internal differences and suffered serious losses due to poor leadership.
The decision to break away was taken during a two-week meeting held in southern Afghanistan attended by senior commanders and leaders, he added.
The split comes just over a year after Omar created a 10-member council to better coordinate the insurgency in Afghanistan. Shortly after the formation of the council, the level of attacks inside the country increased.
A loyalist of Omar who, like bin Laden is being hunted by U.S.-led troops, said the Taliban movement remained intact.
"They are basically not the Taliban," said Taliban spokesman Hamid Agha. "All Taliban commanders are united under the leadership of Mullah Mohammad Omar. If this group has organised itself against the enemies of Afghanistan, we welcome them."
Taliban remnants are believed to have links with al Qaeda, the group they sheltered from the 1990s, and militant Islamic forces loyal to former Afghan prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
The U.S. military was not immediately available for comment on the rift within the Taliban or its implications for security.
Ping
Thanks for the ping. The mullah's little world is getting smaller. Hopefully somebody will deliver his head to US troops. Then I can finally change my tagline!
Five will get you ten that this rift means that Omar has left the country. 5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires
Doesn't matter who leads these terrorists. We just have to change the name on the death certificates.
He is in or near Quetta.
You think that he's still there after he learned that al qaeda's communication hub was compromised?? 5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires
he is one bad mullah..
-hey watch your mouth
I'm just talkin' about omar
-we can dig it
Close by...
What is your opinion is this good news or bad ? Or does it make any difference if the group has split.
Despite the split, however, both Taliban factions will continue to support the Kerry for President campaign.
marker bump
He used a satellite phone to keep in touch with Omar.
Can you imagine a Crank Yanker call to Omar?
"Don't hate me because I'm better looking than you."
-hey watch your mouth
I'm just talkin' about omar
-we can dig it
Daaamnn right.
That's the nut right there. The young bloods are tired of getting shot up needlessly. Think WWI, French generals. They've bailed on Omar and the old timers.
It might be to our advantage to prop up Omar lest this Taliban off-shoot developes some competency in anything other than killing civilians.
Blah blah blah....You are still going to die at the hands of America muslim pigs!
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