Iran on Monday denied reports that Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour entered Pakistan from the Islamic republic before being killed in a United States (US) drone strike, Russian Today reported.
Pakistani security officials on Sunday said that the man killed on Saturday in Balochistan, believed at the time to be Mansour, had just returned from Iran when his vehicle was attacked.
US President Barack Obama on Monday confirmed that Mansour had been killed in a US air strike, hailing his death as an "important milestone" in efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari was quoted by the official IRNA news agency on Monday as denying Mansour had been in the country before the attack.
"The competent authorities of the Islamic republic deny that this person on this date crossed Iran's border and into Pakistan," he said.
"Iran welcomes any positive action leading to peace and stability in Afghanistan," he added, without elaborating.
Pakistani identity documents found on the body of the man believed to be Mansour named him as Muhammad Wali, and showed he had left for Iran on March 28 and returned the day he was killed.
President Ashraf Ghani meanwhile arrived in Tehran on Monday for the signing of a tripartite agreement between Iran, India and Afghanistan to turn Iran's port of Chabahar into a transit hub between the three countries, bypassing Pakistan.
Iran supports the Afghan government in its fight against the Taliban group.
Islamabad called the US drone attack a violation of its sovereignty.
Source: MENA
GMT 10:28 2018 Wednesday ,12 December
Huawei Executive Gets Bail In Case Rattling China TiesGMT 11:45 2018 Saturday ,22 September
Salisbury likely to be discussed at UN meeting chaired by TrumpGMT 01:34 2018 Wednesday ,03 January
Foreign Ministry issues Iran advisoryGMT 15:00 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Trump denounces 'brutal and corrupt' Iranian regimeGMT 00:46 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Foreign Ministry issues Iran advisoryMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor