Taliban chief's body handed over to heirs in Afghanistan

The mortal remains of Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who was killed in a US drone strike, were handed over to his kin in Afghanistan after a DNA test confirmed his identity, it was announced here on Tuesday.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the body of Akhtar Mansoor was "handed over to his heirs in Afghanistan after fulfilling all legal requirements".

Earlier on Sunday, a spokesman of the Interior Ministry had said that it had been confirmed through DNA test that the second person killed in the US drone attack in Balochistan was Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Mansoor.

"It is confirmed that Mullah Mansoor was killed in the US drone strike in Noshki area of Balochistan," the interior ministry's spokesperson said.

"DNA of Mansoor matched with one of his relative who came to receive his body from Afghanistan."

The interior minister said: "The government has arrested the suspects who facilitated Mullah Mansoor in acquiring a Pakistani NIC. These include an assistant commissioner, a Risaldar-Major and several FIA and Nadra officials".

Nisar further said that a Federal Investigation Authority official assisted Mullah Mansoor's wife in acquiring the NIC.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also confirmed the death of Afghan Taliban chief in Balochistan.

The drone strike was also the first in the restive province of Balochistan, considered a red-line by the Pakistani government. Authorisation for the strike came directly from US President Barack Obama.

--IANS

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