Two charred bodies found near Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan

Published May 22, 2016
Rescue officials at the spot. ─ Photo by author
Rescue officials at the spot. ─ Photo by author

QUETTA: Two charred bodies and the remains of a car were found on Sunday in Balochistan's Noshki district near the border with Afghanistan.

The bodies have been transported to Civil Hospital Quetta. ─ Photo by author
The bodies have been transported to Civil Hospital Quetta. ─ Photo by author

The bodies, which were transferred to the Civil Hospital Quetta, were later identified as Wali Muhammad, resident of Balochistan's Killa Abdullah district and Muhammad Azam hailing from Taftan town in the province's Chaghi district.

"Their bodies had been severely burnt from explosive material and there were iron marks on their faces," a senior doctor who declined to be named since he was not authorised to speak to media told Dawn.com.

Azam's body has been handed over to his heirs, who said the victim was a taxi driver.

Haji Khudai Nazar, Azam's uncle, told Dawn.com Azam had been driving a taxi for almost a decade.

The militant-infested Pak-Afghan border region in Balochistan saw unprecedented American bombardment over the weekend, which was authorised by United States President Barack Obama, the Pentagon said on Saturday.

US officials also claimed that Taliban chief Mullah Mansour was killed in one of the drone strikes over the weekend. The Afghan government later confirmed the development, with Afghan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah claiming Mansour was killed in a US drone strike near Quetta – Balochistan's capital.

American officials said the target of the strikes, Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Mansour, was "likely killed".

Pakistan has however said it is "seeking clarification" about a US drone strike that purportedly killed Mansour. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria in a statement on Sunday said: "I have seen the reports [surrounding Mansour's death in a drone strike]. We are seeking clarification."

It is pertinent to mention hear that US Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement on Sunday said he had notified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by telephone of a US drone strike that 'likely killed' Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansour.

Kerry said the Afghan leadership was also apprised of the air strike ordered by US President Barack Obama, declining to elaborate on the timing of the notifications.

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