Afghan Taliban appoints new leader following Mansour's death

Kabul: The Afghan Taliban has confirmed that its former leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike last week and appointed a successor. [caption id=“attachment_2793410” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Taliban militant Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour. Reuters[/caption] In a statement sent to media on Wednesday, the insurgent group said its new leader is Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, one of two Mansour’s deputies. It said he was chosen at a meeting of Taliban leaders, which was believed to have been held in Pakistan. Mansour was 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. Pakistani authorities are believed to support Taliban leaders in cities over the Afghan border. The insurgents have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government since 2001.