WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the Taliban confirmed it appointed Akhundzada to replace Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan over the weekend.
"We would hope that he [Akhundzada] would seize the opportunity…to choose peace and to work towards a negotiated solution," Toner stated. "We hope he makes that choice now."
Toner also confirmed that Akhundzada was not on the US designated terrorist list.
US Department of Defense spokesman Adam Stump told Sputnik on Wednesday that the appointment of Akhundzada as the new leader of the Taliban will not interfere with US efforts to achieve reconciliation between the group and the government of Afghanistan.
