Splinter group forms from within Afghan Taliban

A number of militants from the Taliban group in Afghanistan have taken issue with the outfit’s leader, forming a splinter group and picking a leader of their own, a report says.

According to a Sunday report published by Pakistani daily The Express Tribune, the website of which says is affiliated with The New York Times, the self-declared “High Council of Afghanistan Islamic Emirate” chose senior commander Mullah Mohammad Rasoul at the end of a meeting in Afghanistan’s southern province of Zabul.

No to Mullah Akhtar

The group refused to pledge allegiance to the current Taliban chief, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, who was elected in late July after the announcement of the 2013 death of Taliban’s longtime leader Mullah Muhammad Omar.

The splinter group also appointed Mullah Mansour Dadullah and Sher Mohammad Masnour as Rasool’s deputies, the report said.