Little-known extremist cleric chosen to lead Afghan Taliban

KABUL, Afghanistan — A little-known extremist cleric was chosen Wednesday to be the new leader of the Afghan Taliban, just days after a U.S. drone strike killed his predecessor.

But within hours of the Taliban’s announcement that the group’s council of leaders had unanimously selected Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, opposition to him emerged — a sign that rifts within the insurgency could widen and possibly drive the Taliban further from peace talks with the government of Afghanistan.

The Taliban called on all Muslims to support Akhundzada as a matter of religious obligation and declared three days of official mourning for Mullah Mohammed Akhtar Mansour, who was slain Saturday by a U.S. drone in Pakistan.

The announcement came as a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying court employees in Kabul, killing at least 11 people, an official said. The Taliban promptly claimed responsibility for the attack.

Afghan government officials took the opportunity of Akhundzada’s ascension to again offer direct negotiations aimed at ending the Taliban’s 15-year insurgency. Both Kabul and Washington considered Mansour to be an obstacle to the peace process.

The office of President Ashraf Ghani said the latest developments brought the Taliban “yet another opportunity to end and renounce violence, lay down their arms, and resume a normal and peaceful life.”

Deputy presidential spokesman Zafar Hashemi said if the Taliban decide against joining the peace process, “they will face the fate of their leadership.”

Hours after the Taliban’s statement on their new leader was made to the media, the head of a main dissident faction that broke away last year to protest Mansour’s elevation said the group would not accept Akhundzada either.