Dead or alive? The story of the Taliban's missing leader Mohammed Omar

[zenitzz]

Son of a mullah, Omar rose to become Taliban head before his base in Kandahar fell during US-led invasion. Since then his whereabouts have been a mystery.

In the autumn of 2001, as a US-led invasion loomed, Taliban leader Mohammed Omar addressed his followers. He told them they faced a powerful enemy, and that death and defeat were probable in the struggle lying ahead.

The Taliban have long maintained – in the face of increasing scepticism – that their leader is still alive. However, if claims reported on Wednesday are true, one of the major figures in the turmoil that has been wracking western parts of south Asia for decades will have disappeared.

Omar was born the son of a minor cleric – a mullah – in about 1960. He had a rudimentary religious education and became a cleric too, living in the village of Sangesar, south-west of the southern city of Kandahar.

read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/29/taliban-missing-leader-mohammed-omar-dead-or-alive

[roadbits]

now he will discover that the will of his God is not exactly synonymous with his paramilitary groups actions. If i was him i would not hold out to much hope for those 72 virgins!

[Damiantroll]

I wouldn't be surprised if he started to maintain a low profile because of health issues from the wars he's been in. It's hard to be a leader if you appear very weak. If people have to choose between a weak horse and a strong horse, they will choose the strong horse. If he appears weak there's a lot of ground to loose to more fanatical sects like ISIS.

[koshgel]

Isn't this the guy that only has one picture of him in circulation?

Taliban has been severely weakened over the years. Even if he is alive, don't really think it will make much difference to their operation.

ISIS is the new group everyone is focused on

[Father Ted]

Isn't this the guy that only has one picture of him in circulation?

Taliban has been severely weakened over the years. Even if he is alive, don't really think it will make much difference to their operation.

ISIS is the new group everyone is focused on

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Omar

There's two pictures of him and I'm not sure how they even know if those pics are legit. I'm surprised anyone even still cares about the Taliban any way. Seems ISIS have take their crown recently.