Taliban chief Mullah Omar 'is dead', say Afghan officials

Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar has died, Afghan officials say but the militant group is yet to comment on the claim, the BBC reports.

He died two or three years ago, the BBC quoted Afghan government and intelligence sources as saying.

But there were no further details.

There has been reports in the past over the reclusive leader’s death.

However, it the first time that government sources have confirmed his death.

A Taliban spokesperson, contacted by the BBC, said they would soon issue a statement on the matter.

Reportedly born in Kandahar in 1960, Omar fought against the Soviet occupation in the 1980s and lost an eye during the war.

He led the Taliban to victory over other militant groups in a civil war following the Soviet withdrawal and became its ‘Supreme Leader’ in 1996.

Omar ruled the country in the late 1990s and had close links to former al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

The US-led invasion overthrew his government in 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Omar, who made rare public appearances, has since been in hiding. The US state department announced a $10 million bounty on his head.

Earlier this year, the militant group published his biography, according to which, he has “a special sense of humour”.

It added that the Taliban chief neither has a home nor a foreign bank account.