The Afghan government, Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, and its NATO allies were duped into holding peace talks with so-called ‘Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour’, claiming to be the second highest official in the Taliban movement.
According to Afghan and US sources quoted by the New York Times, authorities held face-to-face talks with ‘Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour.’
Western sources quoted by the New York Times also confirmed a UK Guardian report that the man was paid a large sum of money as a retainer to remain engaged in negotiations.
Some officials suspect the man may have been part of the Pakistan intelligence service known as the ISI — acting as a double-agent.
U.S. Gen. David H. Petraeus stated the man was believed to be an impostor for some time.
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guardian.co.uk Fake Taliban leader ‘dupes Nato negotiators’
The New York Times Taliban Leader in Secret Talks Was an Impostor