Taliban reveal secret burial place of founder Mullah Omar
- Burial place of Mullah Omar, the leader of the Afghan Taliban who died in 2013, was kept secret for nine years
- Pictures released by officials showed Taliban leaders gathered around a simple white brick tomb, enclosed in a green metal cage
The Taliban revealed the final resting place of the movement’s founder, Mullah Omar, whose death and burial they kept secret for years.
Rumours surrounding Omar’s health and whereabouts abounded after the Taliban were kicked out of power in 2001 by a US-led invasion, and they only admitted in April 2015 that he had died two years earlier.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Sunday that senior leaders of the movement attended a ceremony at his gravesite earlier in the day near Omarzo, in Suri district of Zabul province.
The Taliban returned to power in August last year, routing government forces as the US-led military that propped up the regime ended a 20-year occupation.
“Since a lot of enemies were around and the country was occupied, to avoid damage to the tomb it was kept secret,” Mujahid said.
“Only the close family members were aware of the place,” he added.