PESHAWAR, Pakistan: The Afghan Taliban said on Wednesday that a major dispute undermining the movement has been resolved, after relatives of the militant group’s late leader, Mullah Omar, pledged support for his appointed successor Mullah Mansour.

As part of the deal, Mansour’s faction say they will protect Omar’s family from any retaliation by Mansour’s rivals.

Many important Taliban figures still oppose Mansour.

Yet the deal reinforces his leadership, making it more likely that the Taliban can avoid rupturing at a time when Daesh is seeking to expand its influence in the region, and also raising hopes that stalled peace talks with the Afghan government may resume.

Both Mansour and his opponents had sought the backing of Omar’s family in order to strengthen their claims to the leadership. Omar’s family will be protected from any threats, a Taliban commander close to Mansour said.

Mansour will also reach out to senior Afghan Taliban who opposed him or had doubts over his appointment, the Taliban member added. Many important Taliban figures, including those in the political office in Qatar, have yet to publicly endorse him.