"The rift is certainly weakening the movement and if they are not one united force, it could be easier to convince them for peace or eliminate them," said one official, who asked not to be identified.

Other Taliban members close to Mansour have confirmed he had been hurt in the gunfight, which followed a dispute over how to deal with the factional split in the movement, and had apparently been taken to a private hospital for treatment.

"We even don't know where he was taken but some of our people later told us he was admitted in a private hospital and that his condition was still critical," said one senior Taliban member close to Mansour.

Dozens of people were killed in the southeastern province of Zabul last month when fierce clashes broke out between rival Taliban factions.

"The local commanders, who are the backbone of the insurgency, seem to disobey their leaders' orders when it comes to subduing those who don't accept Mullah Akhtar Mansour as the supreme leader," the Afghan official said.