New Taliban Leader Has Opportunity to Choose Peace, Says US

The US has said the new Taliban leader can consider a negotiated solution to join the Afghan-led peace talks.

The new Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube Screengrab)

• The new Taliban leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada has the opportunity to choose a peaceful path and consider a negotiated solution to join the Afghan-led peace talks, the US said on Wednesday.
  
  
• Akhundzada was appointed the new leader after the death of Mullah Mansoor in a US drone strike in Pakistan, on Saturday. The Taliban has, however, rejected peace overtures from the Afghan government.
  
  
• Earlier, the US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter asserted that he hopes better sense would prevail with the new leadership in place and that the US will continue supporting Afghan security forces.
  

(With agency inputs)