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New Taliban Leader Calls For All Foreign Forces To Leave Afghanistan


Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansur (file photo)
Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansur (file photo)

The new Taliban leader has said peace will be achieved in Afghanistan only after all foreign forces leave.

Mullah Akhtar Mansur also said that all existing military and security deals between the Kabul government and other countries must be revoked.

Mullah Mansur made the comments in a statement issued on September 22 ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

NATO ended all combat operations in Afghanistan in December 2014, pulling out most of its troops.

Several thousand, however, remain there to train Afghan forces.

Mullah Mansur also urged the Taliban to unite and ignore "futile enemy propaganda" about disunity among the Taliban ranks.

There are still some Taliban commanders who oppose Mullah Mansur's leadership.

Mullah Mansur was hastily appointed as Taliban leader in July after Afghan intelligence leaked the news that Mullah Mohammad Omar, the movement's reclusive one-eyed leader, had been dead for more than two years.

Mullah Mansur was Mullah Omar's deputy.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
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