Deputy to new Taliban faction killed in a clash in Zabul

The reports suggest that Mullah Akhtar Mansoor’s fighters had earlier captured one of Mullah Dadullah’s man who revealed the latter’s whereabouts. Upon receiving information, Mullah Akhtar’s fighters attacked Mullah Mansour Dadullah’s residence in Kulgharan area of Khak-i-Afghan District and killed him.

However, no trusted sources have verified the incident.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid could not be reached for comment. The dissident group has also not commented on the reports.

Fierce clashes were ongoing between two rival Taliban groups in southern Afghanistan.

Skirmishes have been taking place in southern Zabul province between fighters loyal to the widely-recognised Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour and followers of Mansoor Dadullah, a deputy of splinter-group leader Mohamed Rasool who announced his own faction earlier this month.

Dadullah, the brother of a top Taliban military commander, Mullah Dadullah Akhund, had rejected Akhtar Mansoor as the new leader and even claimed that Mullah Omar had not died of natural causes but was killed. He now leads ‘Dadullah Mahaz’ and is based in Zabul province.