New Taliban chief not designated terrorist by US: Toner

United States (US) has offered Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, newly appointed leader of extremist outfit Taliban in Afghanistan to negotiate and work to re-establish peace in the region.

During a media briefing, spokesperson for the Department of State, Mark Toner said that Haibatullah has the best opportunity till now to turn to the issues of Afghanistan and the region and decisively move towards reconciliation.

While answering a question, Toner said that Haibatullah has never been designated a terrorist by the United States.

Toner hoped that the fresh Afghanistan Taliban leader will choose talks over terror.

On the other hand, Chief Executive Officer, Abdullah Abdullah’s spokesperson warned the extremists to choose peace and end the war or prepare to face dire consequences.

He invited Taliban for talks in a message on Twitter.

However, a video tape has surfaced that shows the newly elected Taliban leader rejecting peace offers but spokesperson for the banned organization, Zabiullah Mujahid has denied the statement.

Mark Toner was apparently unaware of Haibatullah’s rejection of peace talks and he realised that after a journalist asked him for his take on that.

Taliban elected a new chief on Wednesday after confirming the killing of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor in the first-ever drone strike in Balochistan on Saturday.

Sirajuddin Haqqani and son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, Mullah Yakoub were appointed his deputies.

Haibatullah is seen by different sections more of a philosopher than a military commander.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif met with the US Ambassador to Pakistan, David Hale on Wednesday and cleared that any violation of the sovereignty will be detrimental to Pakistan-United States relations.

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif also condemned the attack and termed it a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Interior Minister Chaudhru Nisar Ali Khan in a media briefing on Tuesday termed the drone attack an attempt to sabotage efforts aimed at re-establishing peace in the region.

Chief of Army Staff’s meeting with the US Ambassador came a day after Department of State announced to continue drone attacks, if US foes are found in Pakistan.

Dunya News