By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL
The Taliban have quickly appointed a new head for their Qatar-based political office on Wednesday, a day after the sudden resignation of the previous political leader.
The office's former chief Tayyab Agha quit amid a leadership dispute sparked after it emerged that the revlusive Taliban founder Mullah Muhammed Omar had died.
Agha was quietly replaced by Mullah Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai; who without any announcement was described by the new title "Head of the Qatar office" in a letter pledging allegiance to new leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.
“I and other members of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate declare allegiance to the honorable Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. We consider this decision in accordance with Islamic Sharia and will follow his instructions,” Stanekzai said in a statement published in the Pashto language on the Taliban’s official site.
Stanekzai had a military background prior to joining the Taliban and served as a deputy foreign minister during their rule of Afghanistan.
The Qatar office's former chief Tayyab Agha resigned on Tuesday after being angered that the death of founder Mullah Omar had been kept a secret by the Taliban for two years before it was announced by the Afghan government last week.
Agha, who had been a secretary to Mullah Omar, described concealing his death as a "historical mistake" and said decisions were being made by Taliban leaders outside of Afghanistan; hinting at rumors that those who chose Mullah Mansur as the new leader held their meeting in Pakistan and were influenced by the Pakistani authorities.
Agha said that previous rulers chosen with outside influence "had brought very bad repercussions for the oppressed Afghan nation," referencing the initial choice of former President Hamid Karzai, pro-Pakistan and pro-Iran leaders of the 1990s and the Soviet-backed president of the 1980s.
"To save myself from the expected future disputes regarding the country and people I decided to quit my job as a director of Political Office and head of political affairs,” Agha said in his statement. "In current controversial situation I am not supporting any side."
