How mullah omar died

Dadullah was a close aide of reclusive Taliban leader Mullah Omar

The death of Mullah Dadullah is a boost for the Nato and US-led forces who were fighting the Taliban and its allies given the resurgence the movement had undertaken under his command.

He was identified in Kandahar after his death by the absence of part of one of his legs, the legacy of fighting against the Soviet occupation as a youngster.

As with many Taliban leaders, details of Dadullah’s background are sketchy at best.

He was believed to have been born in Kandahar province, the stronghold of his resistance against US and Nato forces, and was rumoured to be in his late 40s at the time of his death.

Although the Taliban is governed by a 10-man shura or council, Dadullah was thought to be second only to the group’s leader Mullah Omar and was a close aide prior to the US-led invasion in 2001.

In 2005 he was sentenced to life in prison in absentia by Pakistan for the attempted