DHAKA: The Afghan Taliban has denied reports that its leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was killed in a US air strike in Pakistan.

Earlier on Saturday, US officials briefed the media that a drone attack authorized by President Barack Obama had likely killed him and another Taliban member.

The office of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani confirmed the strike but could not confirm Mansoor’s death. Afghan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah said that Mansoor was ‘more than likely’ dead.

Officials said the strike happened at about 1000 GMT, which would have put it late on Friday night in the target area.

The Taliban has a history of denying reports that could hurt its standing, says Al Jazeera.

False rumors on the deaths of the group’s officials, though, have circulated before.

In December, Afghan officials said Mansoor had died after a gunfight. The Taliban later released an audio message from him in which he denied he had been killed.

Several drones targeted the men as they traveled in a vehicle in a remote part of Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan, southwest of the town of Ahmad Wal, one US official said.

The Pentagon confirmed the US army had tried to kill Mansoor, but gave no information about his condition.

‘We are still assessing the results of the strike and will provide more information as it becomes available,’ spokesman Peter Cook said.

BDST: 1419 HRS, MAY 22, 2016
RR

**Afghan Taliban leader likely killed in air strike