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Taliban in Afghanistan appoint new leader after death of Mullah Akhtar Mansour in US drone strike Taliban in Afghanistan appoint new leader after death of Mullah Akhtar Mansour in US drone strike
(about 4 hours later)
The Afghan Taliban confirmed on Wednesday that their former leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last week and that they have appointed a successor.  The Afghan Taliban has installed a new leader after a US drone strike killed former head Mullah Akhtar Mansour.
In a statement sent to media, the insurgent group said its new leader is Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, one of two of Mansour's deputies. It said he was chosen at a meeting of Taliban leaders, which was believed to have been held in Pakistan.  He died on Saturday after less than a year leading the fundamentalist group, which is waging an insurgency in Afghanistan amid floundering attempts at government peace talks.
Mansour was killed in Pakistan on Saturday when his vehicle was struck by a U.S. drone, an attack that is believed to be the first time a Taliban leader was killed in such a way inside Pakistani territory.  In an official statement, the Taliban named his successor as Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, one of two former deputies.
Pakistani authorities are believed to have given shelter and support to some Taliban leaders over the Afghan border. The insurgents have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government since 2001, when their own Islamist regime was overthrown by the U.S. invasion.  Akhundzada, known for his jihadist teachings, was previously named in propaganda as “the former judiciary chief of the Islamic Emirate and religious scholar”.
The U.S. and Afghan governments said Mansour had been an obstacle to a peace process that had ground to a halt when he refused to participate in peace talks earlier this year. Instead, he intensified the war in Afghanistan, now in its 15th year.  An official Taliban account posted a photograph of its new leader, informally known as Mullah Haibatullah, on Twitter showing him with a white turban and a long, greying beard.
Mansour had led the Taliban since last summer, when the death of the movement's founder, the one-eyed Mullah Mohammad Omar became public. Mansour ran the movement in Mullah Omar's name for more than two years. The revelation of Mullah Omar's death and Mansour's deception led to widespread mistrust, with some senior leaders leaving the group to set up their own factions.  Its announcement on Tuesday followed a meeting of the Taliban’s shura leadership council, following days of speculation after leaders failed to confirm Mansour’s death.
Senior Taliban figures have said his death could strengthen the movement, as he was a divisive figure. The identity of his successor was expected to be an indication of the direction the insurgency would take, either toward peace or continued war.  “All the shura members have pledged allegiance to Sheikh Haibatullah in a safe place in Afghanistan,” the statement said. 
Akhundzada is a religious scholar known for issuing public statements justifying the existence of the extremist Taliban, their war against the Afghan government and the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan. His views are regarded as hawkish, and he could be expected to continue in the aggressive footsteps of Mansour.  “All people are required to obey the new Emir-al-Momineen (commander of the faithful).”
Wednesday's statement said two new deputies had also been appointed — both of whom had earlier been thought to be the main contenders for the top job. They are Sirajuddin Haqqani, who was also one of Mansour's deputies, and the son of Mullah Omar, Mullah Yaqoub.  The missive called on all Muslims to mourn Mansour for three days and attempted to calm any qualms among followers by calling for unity and obedience to the new leader. 
The Taliban statement called on all Muslims to mourn Mansour for three days. It also attempted to calm any qualms among the rank and file by calling for unity and obedience to the new leader.  Akhundzada, from Kandahar, is believed to be around 60 years of age and a member of the powerful Noorzai tribe. He was a close aide to the Taliban’s founder Mullah Mohammad Omar.
Associated Press Akhundzada is known for issuing public statements justifying the existence of the Taliban, their war against the Afghan government and vowing revenge for the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan. 
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the head of a feared network blamed for many deadly bomb attacks in Kabul in recent years, and Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, Omar’s son, will serve as his deputies.
The “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” made its announcement after a suicide bomber attacked a minibus carrying court employees in Kabul, killing at least 10 people.
There have been continued warnings of the Taliban’s resurgence over the past year, with it retaining control over large areas of the country and gathering strength to continue its bloody jihad since the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2014.
Its ranks in Afghanistan have been swelled by militants dislodged from the neighbouring Pakistani province of Waziristan by counter-terror operations by government forces.
Attempts by Isis to gain influence and supporters in the country have sparked a strengthening of ties between the Taliban and al-Qaeda, as they seek to counter the “Khorasan Province” branch.
Insurgents have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government since 2001, when their own Islamist regime was overthrown by the US invasion. 
The Ministry of Defence announced that British troops were being sent back to Helmand in December to provide an “advisory role” for local forces, while the US has upped its drone campaign against militants.
The strike against Mansour, which hit his car in Pakistan, was believed to be the first time for a Taliban leader to be killed in such a way in the country. 
Ash Carter, the US defence secretary, said the strike was part of efforts to protect American troops, Nato forces, Afghan military personnel and civilians.
“Removing Mansour from the battlefield eliminates one roadblock to peace in Afghanistan,” he added.
Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said the US had “removed the leader of an organisation 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”.
Mansour had refused to participate in peace talks with the Afghan government, intensifying fighting since he officially took control in July after Omar’s death, and his successor is expected to follow his example.
The US is among the countries calling for the Taliban to join negotiations and the Afghan Chief Executive issued a message to its new leader today.
Javid Faisal, a spokesperson for Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said: “We invite Mullah Haibatullah to peace. 
“Political settlement is the only option for Taliban or new leadership will face the fate of Mansour.”
Pakistan and China have also been trying to get militants to the negotiating table to end a conflict that has killed thousands of civilians and security personnel, caused many to flee Afghanistan and left the country increasingly unstable.