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Taliban Shadow Governor for Helmand Killed in Air Strike

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Taliban Shadow Governor for Helmand Killed in Air Strike Eye on the News [email protected] Truthful, Factual and Unbiased Vol:X Issue No:294 Price: Afs.15 www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimeswww.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes WEDNESDAY. MAY 25. 2016 -Jawza 05, 1395 HS By Akhtar M. Nikzad KABUL: A multi-million power Briefing the newsmen, Minis- project, Turkmenistan-Afghani- ter of Economy, Abdul Sattar stan (TA) which is part of the Murad, who is also a member of TUTAP electricity supply project, the commission, said the assigned would pass through Salang route, officials have concluded work on assigned officials to resolve TA 500kV electricity transmission line. controversies, hinted on Tuesday. He added that delegation from Bamyan province was also present during the commission meetings, PESHAWAR: Experts on Afghan TALIBAN SHADOW GOVERNOR FOR and accepted to receive adequate affairs and Afghan Taliban sources power. The delegation agreed to suggest Mullah Yaqoob, son of late leave the previous route (Salang) Taliban commander Mullah Omar, HELMAND KILLED INAIR STRIKE is likely to lead the militant group unchanged. Mullah Manan, Taliban's shadow governor for southern Helmand province, was killed in an air operation on “The commission laid down following the reported death of Sunday night, police officials confirmed on Tuesday. The air strike took place in Marjeh district of the Afghan Taliban chief Mullah satisfactory demand in front of province in which Mullah Manan was first injured in the attack only to die on Monday, Provincial Police protesting delegation, where they Akhtar Mansour in a US drone Chief Aqa Noor Kentoz said, adding that "Taliban's financer in Marjeh was also killed in the air strike." He strike — but the process will take accepted the decision of the com- time. said that a number of other insurgents were also injured. However, he did not provide more details about the mission,” he said, adding that Pres- Mansour was reportedly airstrike. But local officials said that the strike is part of Khanjar military operation which was launched six ident Ashraf Ghani would an- killed in a drone strike in days ago in the district to clear insurgents in which 30 Talibs were killed and 50 others were injured. Officials nounce final decision on TA route, Balochistan near the Pak-Afghan said that eight security force members were also injured and the operation still continues to clear all insur- border. US has claimed the killing as soon as possible. gents. The operation comes after Taliban insurgents increased their activities in the district and frequently “The core demand of the dele- but Islamabad has not officially target security outposts. Tolonews confirmed that the man targeted in gation was to receive adequate elec- the air strike was the Taliban chief. tricity, and the government is ready "It would be very difficult for to meet this demand,” he added. the Taliban council to elect any 65 DRUG Killing of Mullah Mansoor The decision comes after TA leader unopposed, as several fac- electricity route had sparked criti- tions exist within the group," a TRAFFICKERS cisms among the Afghan masses. former ISI officer, Brigadier (retd) may lead to more fighting, Mehmood Shah, told DawnNews. ARRESTED Some people staged protests in Mehmood Shah claimed that favor of Salang route, where some selection of the new Taliban leader AT News Report suicide attacks: Noor wanted change in the route. will not be an easy task this time. Mullah Mansour was against the Mansour was declared Tali- The acting provincial governor of peace process initiated by the ban leader on July 31, 2015, af- KABUL: The Criminal Justice "Mansour was very close to Mul- northern Balkh province of Af- lah Omer and ran the movement Quadrilateral Coordination Group ter the militant group confirmed Task Forces (CJTF) on Tuesday secretly for two years in the ab- (QCG). the death of Mullah Omar, who said that 65 drug runners including ghanistan Ata Mohammad Noor India mulling to sence of Omer," he added. "He never refused to partici- led the movement for about two four women were arrested in dif- has said the killing of Taliban su- It was due to Mansour's expe- pate in the peace process as nego- decades. preme leader Mullah Akhtar Man- tiations in Europe, Russia ,China But splits immediately ferent operations in the past one deliver more rience and planning that even Unit- month. The Counter Narcotics soor may lead to more fighting and ed States could not find that Mul- and Murree took place under his emerged in the group, with some suicide attacks in coming weeks. lah Omer had died, said Shah. leadership," said Mohmand. top leaders refusing to pledge al- Police (CNP) detained drug traf- helicopters to fickers in different areas of Kabul, In an interview with Reuters, Currently, the four possible "Mullah Omar's son, Yaqoob legiance to Mansour, saying the Noor said “Fighting may well pick nominees before the Taliban cen- is reportedly acceptable to all Tal- process to select him was rushed Herat, Uruzgan, Badakhshan, iban factions, Mullah Rasool fac- and even biased. Kandahar, Helmand, Faryab, up in some parts of the country Afghanistan tral council for the slot of Taliban after the killing of the Taliban lead- chief are that of Mansour's trust- tion has already hinted that they A breakaway faction of the Balkh, Nangarhar, Kunduz and The government of India is mull- worthy aide Sirajuddin Haqqani, could rejoin the mainstream Af- Taliban led by Mullah Moham- Farah provinces, a statement is- er, with suicide and bomb attacks ing to deliver more helicopters to Mansour's adviser on political af- ghan Taliban group if Yaqoob is ed Rasool was formed at that sued by the CJTF here said. (used) as a means of downplaying Afghanistan in a bid to help boost fairs Mullah Hebatullah, Mullah chosen the new leader," said Ra- time, which was reportedly the the importance of losing their lead- the airpower of the Afghan Nation- himullah Yusufzai, analyst and ex- first formal division in the once- The statement added the de- Omer's brother Mullah Abdul tained traffickers were handed over er.” al Security and Defense Forces. Manan and Omar's son Mullah pert on Afghan affairs. unified group. Noor further added that the Sources within Taliban circles Since his takeover of the the counter-narcotics court. The Office of the President in Yaqoob. authorities had to brace for a surge a statement said the issue was dis- "Sirajuddin Haqqani will face also suggest that Yaqoob will be movement, Mansour battled oth- Around 70,041 kg of heroin, their new leader as majority of er Taliban commanders. He even- 743 kg morphine, 2278,906 kg in violence as rival candidates es- any impact on the insurgency ac- cussed during a meeting between resistance since he runs his own tablished their claims to the lead- group (Haqqani group), though he Taliban leaders will favour his as- tually enlisted the powerful opium and 250,066 kg hashish re- tivities of the group. President Mohammad Ashraf merged it with Taliban some fac- cend to the slot. semi-independent faction known covered and confiscated from the ership of the insurgency. The statement by Taliban fur- tions within Taliban still do not In the absence of a chief, Man- as the Haqqani network to cajole He also pointed to a spate of ther added that the campaign by sour's advisers Siraj uddin Haqani important commanders back into smugglers, the statement furthered. consider it their part," said Rus- This is worth mentioning that suicide bombings as well as the the Taliban militants is not for a tam Shah Mohmand, the former and Mullah Haibatullah are run- the fold and promised positions intense fighting that led to the tem- single person which would end or ambassador to Afghanistan. ning the Afghan Taliban movement. on the leadership council to en- 52 drug traffickers were arrested past month and their cases are in porary fall of the northern city of become weak by his death, warn- The former diplomat, howev- Mansour's selection and tice Omar's family to his side. Kunduz last year as Mansoor grouping within Taliban the court. ing that the death of their leader er, denied the impression that See P3 looked to consolidate his newly will spark more revolution. On the won position. other hand, reports emerged Mon- Explosion in In the meantime, Noor said day regarding the start of negotia- some of the Taliban militants may tions among the Taliban leadership Kandahar leaves surrender if the government works council to appoint a successor for well pointing towards a scope for Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. The re- 4 civilians dead, the government to exploit a likely ports further added that the leader fracturing in the insurgency. of Haqqani terrorist network Sira- 5 wounded This comes as the Taliban juddin Haqqani, Mullah Omar’s At least four civilians were killed The death of the Taliban's leader indicated that senior Afghan Tali- So far however, the Taliban has group issued a statement late on son and his brother are among the Ghani and Indian Prime Minister and five others were wounded in in a U.S drone strike has scram- ban members met on Monday to not issued a formal statement con- Monday stating that the death of possible successors of Mullah Narendra Modi. an explosion in southern Kanda- bled discussions between the U.S discuss a successor to Mansour. firming his death. the group’s leader will not have Mansoor. KP The statement further added har province of Afghanistan, local military and the White House over President Ghani thanked India’s officials said. whether to let American troops support and cooperation with Af- The incident took place around once again conduct offensive op- ghanistan, specifically in delivery 7 am local time in the vicinity of erations against the insurgent Mi-25 gunship helicopters and Shahwali Kot district targeting a group in Afghanistan, reports the urged the Indian leadership to fur- vehicle of the civilians.
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