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ISLAMABAD—A crucial meeting of Afghan Taliban leaders and scholars has been in session for days now at an undisclosed location.
The goal: to resolve internal rifts1 over succession that have been engulfing2 the insurgent3 group since it revealed late last month that its supreme4 leader, Mullah Omar, had been dead for more than two years.
The gathering5 is reportedly taking place somewhere in southwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed to VOA on Friday that its religious scholars and elders have been in session to see the resolution through, but refused to discuss the location.
“Our scholars continue to hold discussions aimed at removing concerns and reservations of some of our estranged6 brothers,” Mujahid said.
Rifts denied
He insisted that reports of “rifts or any real differences” in Taliban ranks are misplaced and there is no threat to the integrity of the group.
Mullah Omar’s successor, Mullah Akthar Mansoor, is trying to secure his position against rivals who include family members of the deceased leader and other senior Taliban commanders.
Among them are Omar’s eldest8 son, Mohammad Yakub, his uncle Abdul Manan and a top member of the insurgency9, Abdul Qayum Zakir.
“All mujahidin and our longstanding allies have no objection to the new leadership; however, some friends and brothers have their complaints and differences of opinion that will be addressed very soon,” the Taliban spokesman asserted.
He said these issues are not a matter of serious concern for the group.
“It is natural to face this much difficulty whenever transition occurs,” said Mujahid, adding that the religious leaders have also met with Mansoor as part of the resolution effort.
After taking charge, Mansoor rejected peace talks with Kabul and vowed10 to continue the insurgency against foreign forces and the Afghan government.
Just days after the announcement, a series of suicide and other bombings wrecked11 Kabul, the capital city, in which more than 400 people were killed or injured. The Taliban claimed responsibility for most of these attacks.
The violence outraged13 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who blamed Pakistan for not preventing the insurgents14 from gathering on its soil and plan cross-border attacks, charges Islamabad denied.
The bilateral tensions have threatened a recent thaw15 in relations that Ghani initiated16 to seek Pakistan’s help in ending the Afghan war.
Taliban spokesman Mujahid says its political office in Doha, Qatar is solely17 authorized18 to conduct peace talks but “there is no plan of holding such a dialogue with the Afghan government.”
He justified19 the Taliban attacks across Afghanistan, saying they are part of its ongoing20 ‘Azm’ (Resolve) offensive aimed at Afghans helping21 and supporting foreign occupation forces” in Afghanistan.
Mujahid was referring to the NATO-led training and advising mission that mostly comprises U.S. soldiers.
Damning allegations
Taliban fighters and key commanders are allegedly using their bases in Pakistan for directing the Afghan insurgency, allegedly with the help of the neighboring country’s military spy agency.
Pakistan brokered22 and hosted the first direct peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government on July 7, the first contact between the warring sides in 14 years.
A second round was scheduled for July 31, but the news of Mullah Omar’s death prompted the insurgent group to pull out of the process until the leadership turmoil23 was settled.
The rise in Taliban violence, coupled with tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, have raised questions about whether the window for the peace talks is closed.
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1 rifts | |
n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 );裂隙;分裂;不和 | |
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2 engulfing | |
adj.吞噬的v.吞没,包住( engulf的现在分词 ) | |
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3 insurgent | |
adj.叛乱的,起事的;n.叛乱分子 | |
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4 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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5 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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6 estranged | |
adj.疏远的,分离的 | |
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7 embroiled | |
adj.卷入的;纠缠不清的 | |
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8 eldest | |
adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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9 insurgency | |
n.起义;暴动;叛变 | |
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10 vowed | |
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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11 wrecked | |
adj.失事的,遇难的 | |
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12 bilateral | |
adj.双方的,两边的,两侧的 | |
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13 outraged | |
a.震惊的,义愤填膺的 | |
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14 insurgents | |
n.起义,暴动,造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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15 thaw | |
v.(使)融化,(使)变得友善;n.融化,缓和 | |
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16 initiated | |
n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始,创始,启蒙,介绍加入 | |
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17 solely | |
adv.仅仅,唯一地 | |
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18 authorized | |
a.委任的,许可的 | |
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19 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
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20 ongoing | |
adj.进行中的,前进的 | |
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21 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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22 brokered | |
adj.由权力经纪人安排(或控制)的v.做掮客(或中人等)( broker的过去式和过去分词 );作为权力经纪人进行谈判;以中间人等身份安排… | |
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23 turmoil | |
n.骚乱,混乱,动乱 | |
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