US will continue its fight against Taliban, says Obama

WASHINGTON (92 News) – US President Barack Obama has on Monday confirmed the death of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor in a drone strike. In his statement released by the White House Press Secretary, Obama said that we have removed the leader of an organization that has continued to plot against and unleash attacks on American and Coalition forces, to wage war against the Afghan people, and align itself with extremist groups like al Qaeda. The US President said that Taliban leader rejected efforts by the Afghan government to engage in peace talks and end the violence that has taken the life of thousands of Afghan men, women and children. He further announced that the US will continue its fight against the Taliban. “We will continue taking action against the terrorists networks that targeted the United States,” he added. Obama said that the US will the US will work on shared objectives with Pakistan, where terrorists that threaten all our nations must be denied safe heaven. On the other hand, the Afghan Taliban's leadership council met to start considering succession after a US drone strike targeted its commander. The meeting of the Rahbari Shura, or leadership council, included discussion of possible successors, including guerrilla commander Sirajuddin Haqqani. The Taliban were also considering Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, a potential unifier because of his father’s name. Former Guantanamo detainee Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir and Mullah Sherin were also cited, the sources said.