![Taliban Leader Mullah Mansour Killed In Unmanned Airstrike In Pakistan](https://www.srjnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Taliban-Leader-Mullah-Mansour-Killed-In-Unmanned-Airstrike-In-Pakistan.jpg)
Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour is reported to have been killed in an air strike carried out by United States in a remote area just inside the Pakistan border connected to Afghanistan on Sunday, May 22.
The operation targeted the leader at around 6 a.m. ET Saturday in the southwest of the town of Ahmad Wal. A male combatant traveling with Mullah Mansour in a vehicle was also killed in the air strike.
As the location was very remote, it would take two days to get physical confirmation of the killing of the leader, said a source.
Official said the operation was carried out by several unmanned aircraft and no collateral damage was reported.
Meanwhile, Pentagon has confirmed the airstrike but didn’t confirm whether Mullah Mansour has been killed in the operation that was authorized by President Barack Obama.
In the press statement Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said Mullah Mansour was an active leader of the Taliban and was a threat to the civilians, security forces, and coalition partners as well in Afghanistan with his planned attacks against facilities in capital Kabul and across the country.
The statement further added Mullah Mansour was an obstacle to peace and reconciliation between Afghan government and the Taliban group.
Senators like Lindsey Graham and Bob Corker have welcomed the news urging the Obama government not to withdraw troops from Afghanistan unless the ground permits.