New breakaway Taliban group in Afghanistan

Kabul, Aug 17: A new Taliban group "Dadullah Mahaz" or Dadullah front announced its existence in Zabul province of southern Afghanistan, a source close to the newly emergent armed group said on Wednesday.

According to Moulavi Nematullah Samim, the Taliban splinter group is headed by Imdadullah Mansoor, the nephew of Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor Dadullah who was killed in infighting in Khak-e-Afghan district of Zabul province, Xinhua news agency reported.

It is the third Taliban splinter group since the death of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar which was announced in July last year.

Moulavi Haibatullah Akhundzada and Moulavi Mohammad Rasoul Akhund are presently heading the two other Taliban factions.

The new group's supporters were active in 14 of the country's 34 provinces and would continue to fight against foreign forces in Afghanistan, Samim said.

IANS