The United States (US) Department of State stated on Thursday that Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada has never been designated a terrorist by the United States (US).
During a media briefing, Spokesperson for the Department of State, Mark Toner said that Haibatullah has the best opportunity to turn to the issues of Afghanistan and the region and decisively move towards reconciliation.
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.
However, a videotape has surfaced that shows the newly elected Taliban leader rejecting peace offers but a spokesperson for the banned organisation, 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 Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan termed the drone attack an attempt to sabotage efforts aimed at re-establishing peace in the region.
