A Kabul official says the new Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was wounded during a firefight at a gathering of several Taliban figures in neighboring Pakistan, the Associated Press reports.
The Taliban promptly denied the claim, dismissing it as propaganda by the Afghan government.
Sultan Faizy, spokesman for Afghan First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum, says the shooting erupted Tuesday, December 1 night when Mansoor visited Mullah Abdullah Sarhadi in his house in the city of Quetta.
Faizy says there was an argument, followed by shooting that wounded Mansoor and killed six Taliban figures, including Sarhadi. Faizy also says there are reports Mansoor was taken to a hospital but that his condition is unknown. Faizy did not provide details or offer evidence to substantiate his statement.
A Taliban spokesman could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Pakistani officials said they are not aware of any such shooting incident.
