Mullah Yaqub, according to Qadir, had attempted to succeed his father to lead Taliban fighters but was mysteriously assassinated by Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor, who has already been appointed by his supporters to lead the Taliban group.

The private television channel Tolo has also reported Mullah Yaqub's death, also quoting lawmaker Qadir.

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Taliban militants have not commented on the report.

Cracks have appeared in the Taliban ranks since the death of their leader Mullah Mohammad Omar which was confirmed by Taliban outfit on Thursday.

Some Taliban senior leaders, including Mullah Hassan Rahmani and Mullah Razaq Akhund, two righthand men of Omar during the Taliban rule, have challenged Mullah Mansoor's legitimacy to lead the Taliban while Mansoor's supporters have been lobbying to convince the militants make allegiance to the new leader.

The supporters and opponents of Mullah Mansoor, according to media reports, have fought each other in the northern province of Kunduz and in parts of Herat in the west over the past couple of days.