Envoy denies Taliban chief Mullah Mansour was hiding in Iran

Published August 15, 2016
"If the information on passport was wrong then it is not our fault," clarifies Iran's Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost. —Dawn.com
"If the information on passport was wrong then it is not our fault," clarifies Iran's Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost. —Dawn.com

PESHAWAR: Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost on Monday denied the allegations that the deceased Afghan Taliban chief, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, was hiding in Iran.

The Iranian envoy was of the view that the documents and passport reportedly recovered from the attack’s site wasn’t enough evidence to prove that the man killed in the United States (US) drone attack near Quetta was Mullah Mansour, “or the claim that he had entered Pakistan from Iran”.

“My friends, to be very honest, this was a very complicated and unclear case to us,” Honardoost told media persons during his visit to the provincial capital.

The Iran’s ambassador was is Peshawar to meet Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra.

Honardoost went on to say that the documents recovered near the vehicle, which was targeted and destroyed by US-drone near Iran border, were bearing the name of Wali Muhammad — “but the authorities kept saying that the man killed in the attack was Afghan Taliban chief”.

“If the passport was in the name of Wali Muhammad then how can we say that the charred body was of Mullah Mansour.”

The Iranian authorities had issued visa to Wali Muhammad and the passport and visa was genuine, but we are clueless about the information, the envoy maintained.

“If the information on passport was wrong then it is not our fault.”

He said that Iran and Pakistan have good relations and that his country will fully cooperate with Pakistani investigators in this regard.

“Iran wants increase in trade and business related activities with Pakistan to boost economy”, Honardoost concluded.

Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan earlier this year.

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.

The adviser on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, was of the opinion that the action has undermined the Afghan peace process once again.

Opinion

Editorial

Debt trap
Updated 30 May, 2024

Debt trap

The task before the government is to boost its tax-to-GDP ratio to the global average by taxing the economy’s untaxed and undertaxed sectors.
Foregone times
30 May, 2024

Foregone times

THE past, as they say, is a foreign country. It seems that the PML-N’s leadership has chosen to live there. Nawaz...
Margalla fires
30 May, 2024

Margalla fires

THE Margalla Hills — the sprawling 12,605-hectare national park — were once again engulfed in flames, with 15...
First steps
Updated 29 May, 2024

First steps

One hopes that this small change will pave the way for bigger things.
Rafah inferno
29 May, 2024

Rafah inferno

THE level of barbarity witnessed in Sunday’s Israeli air strike targeting a refugee camp in Rafah is shocking even...
On a whim
29 May, 2024

On a whim

THE sudden declaration of May 28 as a public holiday to observe Youm-i-Takbeer — the anniversary of Pakistan’s...