Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Thursday confirmed the death of Afghan Taliban Chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour, in a drone strike conducted last week in the province of Balochistan.
“All clues point to the fact that the person who was killed in the drone strike is Mullah Mansour,” confirmed Aziz. He further added that the DNA test reports are under process.
“The body will not be handed over till we get the DNA report,” he added.
READ MORE: How US tracked and killed Taliban leader Mullah Mansour
Sartaj Aziz was of the opinion that after the death of Mullah Omar, this is the second time the Afghan peace process has been stalled due to the death of Afghan Taliban chief’s death.
New Afghan Taliban chief
A spokesman for the Afghan Taliban on Wednesday confirmed the death of the group’s Chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike.
In a statement sent to media Wednesday, the insurgent group said its new leader is Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, a former head of the Taliban’s judiciary and one of two Mansour’s deputies.
ALSO READ: New Afghan Taliban chief says NO to peace talks
Sirajuddin Haqqani, Head of a Network blamed for many high-profile bombs attacks in Kabul in recent years, and Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of former Leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, will serve as deputies, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s main spokesman, said in the statement.
Both of the new deputies had earlier been thought to be the main contenders for the top job.
Mansour was reported killed in Pakistan on Saturday when his vehicle was struck by a US drone, believed to be the first time a Taliban leader was killed in such a way inside Pakistani territory.
KNOW MORE: Obama confirms Afghan Taliban chief’s death in drone strike
