Taliban commander Mullah Brother told Reuters he was “alive and well”, more than two weeks after the Afghan government announced he had been killed. Brother served as a top military commander for the Taliban government until it was driven from power in 2001, and is a member of the movement’s leadership council led by fugitive leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar. The Afghan Defence Ministry said late last month Brother was killed in ground fighting in Helmand during a US-led raid. However, Brother said the report was part of America’s disinformation campaign. “I am alive and well and the Afghan government had issued a false news about my death,” he said, speaking by satellite phone to a reporter familiar with his voice. The rebel commander warned of a new offensive involving suicide attacks, roadside bombs and guerrilla raids during Ramazan, which began on Friday.