The 5,000-word biography, emailed to journalists in five languages, offers the story of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who now leads the Taliban in its fight against the Afghan government.
It describes Mansoor, born in 1968, as a tireless holy warrior, good listener, neat dresser and ardent protector of civilians who was appointed as the insurgents' leader.
Mansoor "never nominated himself for leadership, rather he was selected as the only candidate ... By members of the leading council of the Islamic Emirate and religious scholars," the biography says, using the name of the former Taliban government.
Hundreds of Taliban fighters, including battlefield commanders, are meeting in the Pakistani city of Quetta in an effort to resolve the leadership dispute.
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The release of the biography appears to be an attempt by Mansoor's supporters to shore up his position and consolidate his power ahead of the meeting's delegates making a final decision about who leads them. That decision could be made within days.
Analysts and others, like Qasimyar, believe Mansoor gained power in the Taliban in part because of his connections to Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency. The ISI long has had ties to Afghan militants.
With the ISI's support, Mansoor "is the only one right now that has more support than anyone else for the leadership," Qasimyar said. "With Pakistan's support, it doesn't matter who supports him and who doesn't."