Rebel Afghan leader confirmed 'missing', suspected shot dead

THE Afghan intelligence agency last night confirmed that the reclusive leader of the Taleban has disappeared from a suspected hideout in Pakistan and has been out of contact for days - adding further questions about Mullah Mohammad Omar, left, after a media report said he was killed.

The Taleban denied the claim on the Afghan news channel Tolo that Omar was shot dead while being moved inside Pakistan with the help of a former Pakistani intelligence official. The Taleban spokesman countered that Omar was alive and in Afghanistan.

The conflicting reports, however, underscore the suspicion between Afghanistan and Pakistan as the US intensifies pressure on both sides: urging Afghan forces to raise efforts against militants and pushing Pakistan to help unravel the networks that aided Osama bin Laden.

Afghan officials claim Omar has been sheltered in Quetta or Karachi, in Pakistan, but authorities there say there is no credible evidence Omar is in the country. The Afghan security spokesman said Omar had not been spotted since leaving Quetta last week, and suggested "maybe an incident has happened along the way". .