Kabul: Taliban co-founder and acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Wednesday refuted the internal rift in the new caretaker government of Taliban in Afghanistan and also denied that he was injured in a clash at the presidential palace in Kabul.
Baradar in an interview with Afghan national TV, which was posted on Twitter by the Taliban’s political office in Doha refuted rumours that he had been injured or even killed in a dispute last week at the presidential palace in Kabul, reported CNN.
Asked about the rumours, Baradar said, “No, this is not true at all. Praise be to God I am fit and well. And with regards to media claiming that we have an internal disagreement that is not true either.
“Praise be to God, we have a lot of kindness and mercy amongst us, such that does not even exist in a family. In addition, for many years, we have suffered and given sacrifices, in order to end the occupation.
That is neither for power nor for the position.”
Rumours had been circulating — and widely shared on social media — that Baradar had come to harm during a dispute between factions of the Taliban and the powerful Haqqani network, which holds key positions in Afghanistan’s interim government.
Baradar first refuted the claims in an audio clip on Monday, but no video or images were forthcoming then, reported CNN.
Baradar said he had been on a trip outside Kabul without access to the media to refute the claim. “Therefore, we assure the Afghan nation and all senior and junior Mujahideen, not to worry at all, neither is there anything to worry about,” he added.