Whoever wins that battle will largely determine the direction for both the Taliban and the beleaguered Afghan peace process. He had emerged as the successor to Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, whose 2013 death was only revealed last summer. KABUL — The killing of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Akhtar Mansour in a U.S. drone strike was greeted Sunday by Kabul’s political leadership as a game-changer in efforts to end the long insurgent war plaguing Afghanistan. “A new opportunity presents itself to those Taliban who are willing to end war and bloodshed,” he added. Mansour was “the main figure preventing the Taliban joining the peace process,” Abdullah said, speaking live on television as he chaired a Cabinet meeting.

Source: National Post May 22, 2016 12:07 UTC