New York Times: Taliban Chief Targeted by Drone Strike in Pakistan, Signaling a U.S. Shift
KABUL, Afghanistan — After months of failed Pakistani efforts to broker peace talks with the Taliban, an American drone strike against the leader of the Afghan militants signaled a major break with precedent as the United States circumvented Pakistan in an effort to disrupt the strengthening insurgency, officials said on Sunday.
The Afghan intelligence agency said Sunday that the Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, had been killed in the strike in the restive Pakistani province of Baluchistan. The United States announced the strike Saturday but could not confirm that Mullah Mansour had been killed.
Although there was still no official reaction from the main Taliban spokesman, some Taliban commanders on Sunday denied the reports, saying their leader was not in the area of the strike.
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Update #1: This is interesting .... What the US killing of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour means for the future of Afghanistan (The Independent)
WNU Editor: Using drone strikes is not the only tactic that is being employed .... In Afghanistan, a Secret Plan Pays Off the Taliban (WSJ).
Update #2: This is a clear sign that the U.S. was successful in killing Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour .... Afghan Taliban meets on succession after U.S. drones target leader (Reuters).
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