Nisar says can’t confirm Taliban leader killed in US drone strike

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Tuesday he could not confirm that Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour had been killed in a US drone strike, and described Washington’s justification for the attack as “against international law”.

US President Barack Obama said on Monday that Mansour had been killed in the drone attack, and the Pentagon said separately that Mansour was plotting attacks that posed “specific, imminent threats” to US troops in Afghanistan.

Chaudhry Nisar 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.

“We cannot confirm as of now that the person who was killed as a result of US drone strike was Mullah Mansour. There is no scientific evidence to ascertain that. We have taken DNA samples, once it is clear then we will announce it.”

The minister took an exception to US for its recent statements that Washington would target its enemies wherever they are found and questioned the logic behind the attack on Taliban chief.

“Why does a man become a threat for US when he is in Pakistan, why he was not regarded as a threat when he was in his own country,” he said, adding: “If US policy is to be followed, there would be a law of jungle in this world.”

Chaudhry Nisar said the US logic for the attack carries no weight and it could have serious implications. He added that the US drones did not enter Pakistan’s airspace and the missiles were fired from “another country”.

“Pakistan strongly protests the strike,” Nisar said. “The United States’ reasons to carry out air strikes are illegal. They completely negate international laws,” he added.

He said a meeting of Nation Security Council would meet after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns from his foreign trip. “We will give clear viewpoint after the NSC meeting,” he said.

The interior minister said Taliban could not be brought to negotiating table by killing their leaders. “A difficult situation has been created for Pakistan with the killing of Taliban leader,” he said.

He denied that Islamabad has any clout on the Islamic movement in Afghanistan but still it managed to woo them to join talks. The minister also rejected the impression that Mullah Mansour was an impediment to peace talks.