Kabul Confirms US Airstrike on Taliban Leader, Awaits Confirmation of Death

The Afghan presidential office confirmed in a statement that the United States carried out a drone strike targeting the leader of the Taliban insurgency, saying that it was awaiting more information on his death.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – US officials and the Pentagon said a drone strike targeting Mullah Mansour’s vehicle killed the Taliban leader near the remote southwestern Pakistani town of Ahmwad Wal along the Afghan border.

"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan confirms an attack on Mullah Akhtar Mansour in drone operations by the forces of the United States of America," the statement issued by presidential deputy spokesman Dawa Khan Menapal said.

It added that Mansour "stubbornly insisted" on continuing the anti-government insurgency and rejected the Afghan government’s repeated calls for negotiations.

"The Afghan government is trying to provide details of the operation about the fate of Mullah Akhtar Mansour <…> and its results will be available to the public as soon as possible," the statement added.

The remarks were issued shortly after Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said that, if Mansour’s death is confirmed, the setback would lead to "big changes" in the fundamentalist group.

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