Taliban chief 'alive in Afghanistan'

The Taliban has denied a report in the Afghan press that leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has been killed in neighbouring Pakistan, saying he is alive and in Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told the Associated Press in a phone call today that the report is “absolutely wrong”.

He said: “It’s only propaganda and we completely deny these rumours. He is inside Afghanistan and he is busy directing military operations with his commanders.”

Afghan news channel Tolo quoted an anonymous Afghan intelligence official as saying that Omar had been killed in Pakistan.