Obama confirmed death of Taliban leader

Locals gather round the wreckage of the vehicle where Mansour is thought to have died

The United States President Barack Obama confirmed the death of Taliban leader Mullah Mansour in a U.S. airstrike along the Pakistan and Afghanistan border.

In a statement released by the White House on Monday, Obama has called the strike part of the U.S. “longstanding effort to bring peace and prosperity” to Afghanistan.

“Mansur rejected efforts by the Afghan government to seriously engage in peace talks and end the violence that has taken the lives of countless innocent Afghan men, women and children. The Taliban should seize the opportunity to pursue the only real path for ending this long conflict – joining the Afghan government in a reconciliation process that leads to lasting to lasting peace and prosperity,” the statement said.

The statement further says that US will continue to help “strengthen Afghan security forces” and the National Unity Government of Afghanistan in their efforts for peace in Afghanistan.

Obama pledges that his country will continue taking action against extremist networks and will work with Pakistan to halt the safe havens for terrorists.

“We will work on shared objectives with Pakistan, where terrorists that threaten all our nations must be denied safe haven,” the statement added.

US leader pointing to the killing of Mansour says that it was a clear message to all those who target “our people and our partners . you will have no safe haven”.

Taliban leader Mullah Mansour, 56, was killed in a US drone strike on Saturday in Pakistan. The news was confirmed by the Afghan Intelligence Agency a day after the attack was carried out. Pakistan denounced the attack and called it violation of its sovereignty by the United States.

Written by: Hesamuddin Hesam