Afghan Taliban Leader Killed In Drone Strike

Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour has been killed in a drone strike, the group has confirmed.

The strike, which was authorised by US President Barack Obama, is also thought to have killed another combatant, an American official added.

Multiple US drones targeted the men as they rode in a vehicle in a remote area in Pakistan along its border with Afghanistan, southwest of the town of Ahmad Wal, the official said.

The strike took place at around 6am EDT (11am UK time), which would have placed it around 3pm on Saturday in Pakistan.

A State Department official said both Pakistan and Afghanistan were told about the strike, but did not disclose whether they were notified prior to it being carried out.

was later confirmed by a senior Taliban commander.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement that Mansour "has been the leader of the Taliban and actively involved with planning attacks against facilities in Kabul and across Afghanistan, presenting a threat to Afghan civilians and security forces, our personnel, and Coalition partners".

Mansour was appointed leader of the Taliban in July 2015 following the revelation that the group's founder, Mullah Omar, had been dead for two years.

"Since the death of Mullah Omar and Mansour's assumption of leadership, the Taliban have conducted many attacks that have resulted in the death of tens of thousands of Afghan civilians and Afghan security forces as well as numerous US and Coalition personnel," Mr Cook said.

He added that officials were still assessing the results of the drone strike and would provide more information when available.

Mansour's death could have implications for stalled peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

Mr Cook said Mansour had prohibited Taliban leaders from taking part in peace talks with the Afghan government.

Mansour's death could also have repercussions within the militant group, where rival factions rejected his leadership after he publicly assumed the title of his predecessor last year.