LASHKARGAH - Government officials for southern Helmand province on Tuesday vehemently denied the visit of the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Haibatullah to the province.
Two days back, the Kandahar provincial police chief, Gen. Abdul Raziq, told media outlets that Mullah Haibatullah had arrived at Musa Kala district of Helmand to meet some Taliban group leaders, asking them to soften their position towards Daesh militant group.
However, Helmand deputy governor, Sardar Mohammad Hamdard, on Tuesday during a press conference said based on intelligence information the insurgents’ kingpin visit to the province was far from reality.
In the meantime, Helmand police chief, Brig. Gen. Abdul Ghafar Sapai, speaking at the conference, confirmed the Taliban leader had not come to the province. “If Mullah Haibatullah had come here, he would have been definitely targeted by our airstrikes.”
The provincial council head, Mohammad Karim Atal, for his part said another insurgent commander named likewise Mullah Haibatullah existed in the province. “It’s possible someone had reported to the Gen. Raziq of the fake Mullah Haibatullah.”
On the other hand, the Taliban’s spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, told Pajhwok Afghan News Mullah Haibatullah visited all the provinces in rotation to monitor the Taliban’s affairs.
“It’s not a new thing, but the Islamic Emirate leader’s works ordinary schedule of overseeing the Taliban in different provinces.” (Pajhwok)