Mullah Akhtar Mansoor: Taliban leader 'denies he is dead' in audio recording

'I have recorded this message to let everyone know that I am alive,' group's chief reportedly says

Mullah Akhtar Mansoor (Reuters)

The Taliban's leader has reportedly released an audiotape to deny he was killed during a shootout in Pakistan.

Afghan officials had said Mullah Akhtar Mansoor died during a gun fight in Kucklah, Pakistan.

But according to Sky News, a 17-minute long recording by Mr Mansoor says: "I have recorded this message to let everyone know that I am alive. About the news that there was fighting between the Taliban in a meeting and my name was also mentioned, that I was wounded and some media and some people said that I passed away later.

"Brothers, this news is baseless, there is no doubt, this is the propaganda from the enemy."

The voice has not yet been confirmed, but Afghan officials say the voice bears a resemblance to Mr Mansoor’s.

The man in the recording also offers his sympathy to the families of those killed in the shootout, although senior sources within the Taliban told AFP they have doubts over its authenticity.

"I think it's a faked audio. I believe he's dead," an unnamed senior Taliban source told AFP.

"I am not satisfied after hearing the clip that it belongs to Mansoor," another said.

A spokesperson for Afghanistan’s vice president released a statement claiming Mr Mansoor was wounded in the shootout, while several intelligence sources claim he was killed. Afghan officials are working to verify the clip.

Mr Mansoor become leader of the Taliban in July after the death of Mullah Omar.