Taliban denies US claims that leader was killed

Washington announced yesterday that it killed Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a drone attack in Pakistan on Saturday, claims denied by the Taliban, Al Jazeera reported.

Speaking on condition of anonymity an American official said US drones targeted Mansour and another fighter when they were driving a car in Pakistan.

President Barack Obama approved the “military attack” which was carried out on Saturday at 10 am, Pakistan time.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Koch said that there would be more details about the operation, noting that Mansour stood in the way of peace talks and between the Taliban and the Afghan government as he prevented Taliban officials from taking part in the talks.

Mansour also planned attacks against American, Afghan and international coalition soldiers in Afghanistan.

A Taliban spokesman denied Mansour’s death in the American drone attack.

“This is not the first time that we hear such news which is baseless,” a member of the Taliban said.

However, Afghan security officials told Al Jazeera that Mansour was killed; adding that the Taliban would deny the claims as Mansour’s death would have a large impact on Taliban fighters and their future.