Various countries including Afghanistan, USA and Pakistan had admitted the death of Taliban’s chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour after DNA test results.
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Both men died in the Toyota Corolla that was reduced to a burned-out shell after the airstrike, leaving Azam’s family reportedly with no means of support. He said they hardly earn enough to have two meals daily. “I want justice and demand action against the USA authorities”, his brother wrote.
They were accused of using unjustified force against Anwar al-Awlaki, who was a wanted terrorist in Yemen and the US, his son and his assistant. Qasim said of his brother’s children who are now calling their deceased father a “martyr”. “I appeal to the civilised world, including all those human rights bodies, to investigate the brutal murder of my brother and compensate his children”, Qasim said.
“I have written to the government in Quetta to pay compensation to the family”, Shah said according to the newspaper.
A passport in the name of Wali Muhammad, believed to be used by Mansour for his travels, allegedly found near the scene of the drone strike and which miraculously remained undamaged, bears a valid Iranian visa which shows that Mansour entered Iran on March 28 and exited on May 21.
It remains unclear, however, why the USA waited for six hours before striking Mansoor and the vehicle he was in. The attack occurred after a stop in the town of Ahmad Wal, some 35 kilometers from Afghan airspace.
This was a first ever contact between Pakistan and Afghanistan after the death of Mullah Mansour. The driver, who was also killed in drone strike, was later identified as Mohammed Azam. Pakistan protested the drone strike that hit Mansour and called it violation of its sovereignty.
Earlier, the Pakistani government refused to confirm the death of Mansour in the strike.
Defence analyst Lt. General Abdul Qayyum (retd) said Pakistan had been criticising the drone attacks since start.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz held an important meeting with Afghan ambassador in Islamabad, Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and discussed this month’s drone attack that killed Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the officials said.
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The selection of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada as the Taliban’s new leader over other hardliners, including the head of the Haqqani network, Sirajuddin Haqqani, had created a level of optimism that the group might intend to change course when it comes to peace talks with the Afghan government.
