Taliban deputy PM Baradar dismisses claims of infighting in new video

Taliban deputy premier Abdul Ghani Baradar has dismissed suggestions he was harmed in fighting between rival groups within the self-styled Islamic Emirate.

Appearing on video, the Taliban leader's latest statement comes just days after he issued an audio message on Monday denying rumours he had died in an intra-Taliban gunfight at the presidential palace.

Baradar had not been seen in recent days, and claims were made there has been a dispute among senior Taliban figures, the BBC reported.

However, the leader rejected the idea there was conflict within the Taliban, which now rules Afghanistan.

Quizzed on any injuries he might have received, he replied: "No, this is not true; I am OK and healthy.

"I was out of Kabul and I did not have access to the internet to reject the fake news."

His organisation's Qatar-based political office uploaded the footage to Twitter.

Baradar appeared on a couch beside an interviewer for the Afghan public broadcaster.

He claimed the Taliban's ties with each other "are even better than a family."

The footage follows high-level figures within the group speaking with the BBC claiming some of Baradar's backers had fought with a group faithful to refugees minister and notable Haqqani network member Khalil Al-Rahman.

These insiders claimed the dispute was due to the deputy PM's disagreement with the setup for the transitional government.

It also allegedly related to differing views about who should be seen as responsible for the Taliban's takeover.

The deputy PM reportedly highlighted the diplomatic efforts he and others he and others engaged in, whereas the Haqqani network and its backers felt the military campaign was the main cause.

Analysis: The Taliban's rise to power has amplified fears that Afghanistan's huge narcotics trade will only increase under the new fundamentalist regime. Here's why:https://t.co/V6YuNVAEaF

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The United States considers the Haqqani network to be a terror group.

It has been linked to many serious attacks on the now-defunct former Afghan government and the international troops which supported them.

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the faction's chief, was made Taliban minister of the interior.