![Former Afghan Taliban fighters carry their weapons before handing them over as part of a government peace and reconciliation process at a ceremony in Nangarhar province [AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ecf401d3a0ad45e599d730e635deb64f_18.jpeg?resize=730%2C410&quality=80)
Targeting the Taliban
Do targeted assassinations weaken Taliban? And what does Mansoor’s death mean for peace in Afghanistan?
It was less than a year ago that Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was announced leader of the Afghan Taliban.
His death in a US drone strike in Balochistan, a Pakistani region near the Afghan border on Saturday, could potentially throw the group into a period of confusion and internal power struggle.
During his time, Mansoor signalled readiness to peace talks and opened a Taliban liaison office in Qatar for that purpose.
But under his leadership, the Taliban refused a recent invitation from the Afghan government to attend negotiations.
Do targeted assassinations weaken groups such as the Taliban? And what does Mansoor’s death mean for peace in Afghanistan?
Presenter: Hazem Sika
Guests:
David Sedney – a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is a former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.
Omar Samad – a senior adviser to Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
Rohullah Yakobi – associate fellow at the Human Security Centre.