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Afghan CEO Expects 'Big Changes' in Taliban if Leader’s Death Confirmed

Sputnik International

"Big changes" in the Taliban insurgent group’s leadership in Afghanistan are expected if reports of US airstrikes killing its leader are confirmed, Chief... 22.05.2016, Sputnik International

2016-05-22T05:47+0000

2016-05-22T09:03+0000

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Afghan CEO Expects 'Big Changes' in Taliban if Leader’s Death Confirmed

05:47 GMT 22.05.2016 (Updated: 09:03 GMT 22.05.2016)

© AP Photo / Reza Shirmohammadi, FileFILE - In this Dec. 28, 2011 file photo, a former Taliban fighter places a range of bullets before surrendering it to Afghan authorities, as part of a peace-reconciliation program in Herat, west of Kabul, Afghanistan

FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2011 file photo, a former Taliban fighter places a range of bullets before surrendering it to Afghan authorities, as part of a peace-reconciliation program in Herat, west of Kabul, Afghanistan - Sputnik International

"Big changes" in the Taliban insurgent group’s leadership in Afghanistan are expected if reports of US airstrikes killing its leader are confirmed, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah said Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The United States allegedly killed Mullah Mansour on the Pakistani side of the border in an airstrike on Saturday, US officials said.

#Afghan CEO Abdullah address nation says if reports of Mullah Mansour's death are true big changes will come to #Taliban leadership
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) 22 мая 2016 г.

His death would be "a big blow to the insurgent group", Abdullah said as quoted by TOLO News.

Abdullah added, as cited by the Al Arabiya network, that Mansour was "likely" killed in the airstrike southwest of the remote Pakistani town of Ahmad Wal.

Pakistani media, meanwhile, disputed the claims, saying those killed in the airstrike was a taxi driver and his passenger. A Taliban representative also reportedly denied the US reports.

Mansour succeeded longtime Taliban leader Mullah Omar after his death in 2013 was confirmed in mid-2015.