An in-depth look into the Taliban post-Mullar Omar shows how months after the announcement of the death of the group's leader, tension within the Taliban's hierarchy remains.
In fact, since the July announcement of his death two years earlier, the Taliban has split into two groups – one in support of Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, who was appointed as Mullah Omar's successor, an the second group in support of Mullah Mohammad Rassoul Nowrozi as leader.
But the question is who are these leaders and who supports them. In the first part of a five part documentary, TOLOnews delves into the Taliban's current structures and alliances.
Firstly, there is Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, who was appointed by Pakistan's Quetta Shura. His first deputy is Shikh Haibatullah Akhundzada and his second deputy is Sirajuddin Haqqani.
All three figures are influential among insurgents in the eastern, southern and south-western parts of Afghanistan.
Shikh Haibatullah is also considered influential over Madrasas in Balochistan in Pakistan.
Mullah Mansour was born in 1968 in Temor village of Maiwand district in southern Kandahar province.
However, a number of people think that he is from northern Jawzjan province while others believe he hails from Zurmat district of eastern Paktia province. He graduated from Haqqania Madrasa and during the Taliban's regime he was appointed by Mullah Omar as the head of Kandahar airport.
He then took control of the air force in this province and once Taliban took control of Kabul, he was appointed as minister of aviation and became the commander of the air force.
It is widely believed Mullah Mansour lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta, Pakistan and also in Banaras Road in Karachi.
Meanwhile, his first deputy Shikh Haibatullah is from Garmsir in southern Helmand but currently lives in Quetta city. He was the administrative assistant of Mullah Omar.
Mawlawi Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mullah Mansour's second deputy, is from Jaji Maidan in eastern Khost province but now lives in Miranshah in Pakistan.
In total there are 13 individuals within the Taliban leadership that support Mullah Mansour.
1. Mullah Hayatullah who is known as Haji Lala is from Arghandab district in Kandahar but now lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta. He heads up the unit that plans suicide attacks and blasts and oversees shadow governors in Kandahar.
2. Mawlawi Abdulhai Mutmaen is from southern Uruzgan province but lives in Pakistan. He is a member of the cultural commission.
3. Mawlawi Kabir hails from Paktia province but now reportedly lives in Pakistan. He heads the Taliban's military commission in Peshawar.
4. Amir Khan Mutaqi comes from Sherana in Paktia but now reportedly lives in Banaras Road in Karachi, Pakistan. He is the head of the Cultural Shura of Quetta.
5. Mullah Abdullah, who is also known as Torak Agah, is from Panjwai district in Kandahar but currently resides in Quetta. He is a member of the Taliban's internal and external relations commission.
6. Abdul Samad Sani, from Band-e-Temor area in Maiwand district, Kandahar, lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta. He is a member of the financial commission of the Quetta Shura.
7. Amir Khan Haqqani used to live in Mezan district in Zabul but now resides in Banaras Road in Karachi. He is a member of the internal and external relations commission.
8. Shikh Abdul Hakim, from Band-e-Temor village in Maiwand district, Kandahar, lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta. He is the head of the Taliban's court commission.
9. Mawlawi Sani, is from Arghandab district, Kandahar, but now lives in Karachi in Pakistan. He is the head of the Taliban's internal and external relations commission.
10. Haji Gul Agha, hails from Spinboldak district, Kandahar. He is the head of the financial commission.
11. Mullah Mohammadzai, lived in Kandahar but now lives in Ishaqabad in Quetta. He is the head of intelligence for the Taliban.
12. Mullah Mohammad Naeem, from Garmsir district in Helmand now lives in Gard-e-Jangal in Pakistan. He is a member of the Taliban's military commission.
13. Sardir Mohammad Ibrahim, who is from Sarwand village, Sangin district in Helmand now apparently lives in Hazara Ganji in Quetta. He is the head of the military commission.
Speaking to TOLOnews, Jawid Kohistani, a military analysts said: "Mullar Mansour was a smuggler in the past but today is dependent on Pakistan's intelligence service (ISI). Mullah Rassoul's group says they support Mullar Omar but are against Pakistan's policy. In fact they were formed inside Afghanistan and they believe Mullah Mansour murdered Mullar Omar."
"They also believe Mullah Mansour has ties with U.S, Britain and other countries' intelligence agencies."
Meanwhile, the breakaway Taliban group, which is opposed to Mullah Mansour, appointed Mullah Mohammad Rassoul Nowrozi as leader.
He in turn appointed Mullah Baz Mohammad and Mullah Mansour Dadullah as his military deputies.
Mullah Manan Neyazi was also appointed as his third deputy over politics and also as spokesman for their supreme council.
Mullah Rassoul hails from Loy Kariz village in Spinboldak district in Kandahar and is 40-years-old. He was governor of Nimroz during the Taliban's regime and worked closely with Mullah Omar for years. Mullah Omar considered him trustworthy. He now reportedly lives in
Quetta.
Mawlawi Baz Mohammad is from Khak-e-Safid district in western Farah province but lives in Gard-e-Jangalgah, in Quetta city.
Mullah Mansour Dadullah is from Dehrawood district of southern Uruzgan province and he was a commander for his brother, Mullah Dadullah who at the time of his death in 2007 was senior military commander. After the death of his brother, Mullah Mansoor Dadullah took on all his responsibilities.
Mullah Abdul Manan Neyazi, who comes from Torghondi in western Herat, previously worked as the spokesman for Taliban. He was also shadow governor of Kabul province. He now lives in Ishaqabad of Pakistan.
This Taliban group has strong influence in Farah, Herat, Nimroz and Uruzgan provinces and high ranking members of Quetta Shura support them. In addition, seven others support them.
1. Shir Mohammad Mansour, from Zurmat district in Paktika.
2. Mullah Mohammad Hassan Rahmani, resident of Meyanshin district of Kandahar but now believed to be living in Pashton Abad in Quetta city. He is the head of the recruitment commission for the Quetta Shura.
3. Mawlawi Habibullah, from Khak-e-Safid in Farah now lives in Gard-e-Jangal in Pakistan. He is a member of the Taliban's military commission and head of Habibullah Madrasa in this area.
4. Mullah Abbas, from Khas Urzgan district of Uruzgan lives in Kharot Abad in Quetta city. He is head of the Taliban's health commission.
5. Mawlawi Ahmad, originally lived in Kandahar but now resides in Quetta.
6. Mawlawi Jalil, who is known as Haqqani, is from Kandahar but lives in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. He is a member of the intelligence commission of the Quetta Shura.
7. Mullah Abdul Razaq, from Zar Qala village in Spinboldak district, Kandahar, lives in Chaman area in Pakistan. He is a member of the Quetta Shura's recruitment commission.
Political analysts, Nazar Mohammad Mutmayen meanwhile said: "Mullah Abdul Manan (Mullar Omar's brother) and Abdul Yaquob (Mullar Omar's son) are said to be aligned to Mullah Rassoul."
In the next episode of this report TOLOnews looks at the differences among the Taliban leadership that led to the split.
To watch the full report click below.
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