[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Senior Afghan Taliban sources on Sunday confirmed the death of their chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike in Pakistain, adding a shura or council is underway to decide his successor."I can say with good authority that Mullah Mansour is no more," a senior Taliban source told AFP.
Mansour’s death was confirmed by two other senior figures, who said the group’s top leaders were gathering in Quetta to name their future chief.
Earlier, Rooters quoted a US official as saying that Mansour was "likely killed" along with another combatant. He added that multiple U.S. drones targeted the men as they rode in a vehicle.
Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a statement: "Today, the Department of Defense conducted an
Cook said that Mansour has been "actively involved with planning attacks against facilities in Kabul
...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title
Most Evil Man in the Worldand didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either....
and across Afghanistan, presenting a threat to Afghan civilians and security forces, our personnel, and Coalition partners."
Cook added that "Mansour has been an obstacle to peace and reconciliation between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, prohibiting Taliban leaders from participating in peace talks with the Afghan government that could lead to an end to the conflict."
According to local reports, the
I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody...
has authorized the strike.