- Title: Pakistan says can't confirm Taliban leader killed in U.S. drone strike
- Date: 24th May 2016
- Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (MAY 24, 2016) (REUTERS) PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER CHAUDHRY, NISAR ALI KHAN, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE KHAN SITTING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE / JOURNALISTS FILMING REPORTERS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER, CHAUDHRY NISAR ALI KHAN, SAYING: "Confirmation about the second dead body was not possible, because it was said it was Mullah Mansour's body, and Mullah Mansour is not Pakistani. So, without any scientific verification, without any DNA test, the Pakistani government and Pakistani organizations had no means of confirming this news on an official basis. And this is the current situation." REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER, CHAUDHRY NISAR ALI KHAN, SAYING: "The DNA tests have been duly done, and as soon as we get any confirmation, a categorical announcement will be made." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER, CHAUDHRY NISAR ALI KHAN, SAYING: "Regardless of the target, the government of Pakistan strongly condemns the drone attack. The justification that America has given to the world about this drone attack is illegal, unreasonable and unacceptable. It is against Pakistan's sovereignty and independence, and totally negates the charter of the United Nations and international law." NISAR LISTENING TO A REPORTER ASKING A QUESTION REPORTERS LISTENING
- Embargoed: 8th June 2016 16:35
- Keywords: Taliban leader drone interior minister Khan Afghan Pakistan strike illegal
- Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- City: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0014J64U9Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Pakistan's interior minister said on Tuesday (May 24) he could not confirm that Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, had been killed in a U.S. drone strike, and described Washington's justification for the attack as "against international law".
U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Monday (May 23) that Mansour had been killed in the drone attack over the weekend, and the Pentagon said separately that Mansour was plotting attacks that posed "specific, imminent threats" to U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, Pakistani Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, told reporters that the body recovered near the Afghan border was charred beyond recognition, adding that DNA samples would be tested against a relative who had come forward to claim the body.
"Confirmation about the second dead body was not possible, because it was said it was Mullah Mansour's body, and Mullah Mansour is not Pakistani. So, without any scientific verification, without any DNA test, the Pakistani government and Pakistani organizations had no means of confirming this news on an official basis," said Khan.
He added that the DNA tests had now been taken, and an announcement will be made after receiving the results.
Strongly condemning the U.S. drone strike targeting Afghan Taliban leader, the interior minister said the strike was "illegal" and against international law.
"Regardless of the target, the government of Pakistan strongly condemns the drone attack. The justification that America has given to the world about this drone attack is illegal, unreasonable and unacceptable. It is against Pakistan's sovereignty and independence, and totally negates the charter of the United Nations and international law," he said.
He added that decisions would be made once Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned from abroad and warned that this specific attack could have serious implications for the Pakistan-U.S. relationship.
Pakistan and the United States have been uneasy allies in the war against Islamist militants in the region.
U.S. critics accuse Pakistan of allowing the Afghan Taliban's leadership to take shelter on its territory, something that Islamabad has denied. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None