A senior Taliban leader, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai took over on Wednesday as the acting chief of the group’s political office in Qatar and pledged allegiance to the newly elected supreme leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, according to media reports.
The appointment comes a day after the head of Taliban’s political office in Qatar, Sayed Tayyeb Agha, resigned citing differences over the election of the ultraorthodox militia’s new leader Mullah Mansour.
“I and other members of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate declare allegiance to the honourable Mullah Akhtar Mansour. We consider this decision in accordance with Islamic Sharia and will follow his instructions,” Stanekzai said in a statement.
“We assure our full support to the new chief,” the statement added.
Stanekzai’s appointment will put a pause on the longstanding tensions between Tayyeb Agha and Mansoor and their understanding could help in the peace process.
Stanekzai’s appointment is said to bring an end to the longstanding tensions between Tayyeb Agha and Mullah Akhtar Mansour and their understanding could contribute to the peace process.
Stanekzai, who had also served as deputy minister for health during Taliban rule, was the founding member of the Qatar office. He was later appointed as deputy to Tayyeb Agha.
Believed to be aged between 55 and 60 years, Stanekzai is a former member of the Harkat-e-Inqilab-e-Islami of Muhammad Nabi and holds a Masters’ degree in political science.
Late on Monday, Sayed Tayyeb Agha resigned from his position of chief negotiator. Tayyeb Agha, who was a close confidant of the deceased Taliban spiritual leader, described Mullah Mansour’s election outside Afghanistan as a ‘historic mistake’ and accused the leadership of keeping the death of Mullah Omar secret despite his repeated demands for the voice of the elusive Taliban chief.
