Taliban deny leader is dead, saying US hacked their phones

Calcutta News.Net
Wednesday 20th July, 2011

Taliban spokespersons have denied that their leader, Mullah Omar, is dead, following a text message which was sent on his behalf to the international media.

The Taliban spokespersons made contact with the Associated Press late Tuesday to deny the reports, insisting that a “phone hack” had occurred. The group blamed the United States for the incident.

The reports began to emerge online Tuesday that Omar was dead following a text message sent by senior Taliban figure Zabiullah Mujahid proclaiming that the “commander of the Muslim faithful” had died.

The circumstances of his supposed death were not revealed.

The Taliban claims the alleged phone hacking is an attempt at psychological warfare by NATO forces and analysts have said the incident will likely cause disruption and speculation within the group’s ranks.

“It could be the Americans or the CIA behind it to sow unrest and division and confusion, which it clearly has done,” Pakistani author and Taliban expert Ahmed Rashid told Reuters.

The Taliban’s PR arm appeared to be in high gear Wednesday getting the word out to dispel rumours of Omar’s death.

In recent years the Taliban, a terrorist organisation according to the US and other world powers, has developed a sophisticated public relations division, with Web sites, mobile ring tones and email mailing lists for major news outlets.

The whereabouts of Omar are unknown, with the Taliban claiming he is in Afghanistan, while the US says intelligence suggests he is in Pakistan.

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