KABUL, May 23 (Xinhua) — Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has been killed in Pakistan, many private television channels in Afghanistan reported on Monday, while Taliban denied the report.
“Mullah Omar was killed on way from Quetta to North Wazirustan, ” TOLO television aired in its news bulletin. Several other local TV channels including Shamshad, Ariana and Noor also reported it as the same.
However, the local media did not say the details on how he was killed and by whom.
Meantime, a security official contacted by Xinhua confirmed the incident, saying “it is correct that Mullah has been killed.”
The official also emphasized that Mullah Omar was killed inside Pakistan.
“The report about the death of Mullah Omar is merely a propaganda to demoralize Mujahideen. Mullah Omar is alive. He is inside Afghanistan and is leading Mujahideen against foreign troops,” Zabihulla Mujahid told media on Monday.
Mullah Omar had escaped the massive U.S. military manhunt in the region since the collapse of his regime in late 2001 by U.S- led military campaign would be a big blow to his fighters operating in Afghanistan.
U.S. forces during a special operation killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan on May 2.
