“At the same time, the Taliban may feel it needs to project strength” after the drone strike that killed Mansour, Ruttig said. “But Afghan security forces should not let the new Taliban leader show he is a strong leader from the beginning,” he said. [U.S. airstrike against Taliban leader cross Pakistani ‘red line’]Footage purports to show the aftermath of a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan that is thought to have killed Taliban chief Akhtar Mohammad Mansour on May 21. A photo released by the Taliban shows their new supreme commander, Haibatullah Akhundzada, who will succeed their slain leader Akhtar Mansour. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said the attack was “vengeance” for the six Taliban prisoners hanged outside Kabul this month.

Source: Washington Post May 25, 2016 04:23 UTC