Drone Victim's Brother Brings US Legal Action

The brother of a man killed alongside slain Taliban boss Mullah Akhtar Mansour is pressing charges against US officials, according to police.

Mansour was in a car near the Pakistani town of Ahmad Wal on 21 May when he was killed in an American drone strike, along with what Washington described as a "second male combatant".

However, the other man has been named by Pakistani security officials as Mohammad Azam, who worked for a rental car company in Quetta, the region's biggest city.

His brother Mohammad Qasim is bringing murder and terrorism charges against the US, arguing that Azam was an innocent man, providing for his four children when he was killed.

The identity of the US officials involved in the drone strike has not been revealed, and it is unclear if the charges will relate to those who ordered the attack or the people who carried it out.

Azam's family may seek a trial in absentia for a symbolic victory or they may attempt to push for compensation.

In a police report, Qasim said: "US officials whose name I do not know accepted responsibility in the media for this incident, so I want justice and request legal action against those responsible for it."

"My brother was innocent, he was very poor and he has left behind four small children. He was the lone breadwinner in the family."

He said later: "My aim is to prove the innocence of my brother as he is being portrayed as a militant, but he was just a driver."

Local police have confirmed charges have been filed but would not say what steps would be taken to take the case forward.

Mansour's death was hailed as a major blow to the Islamist militants, who have been waging war in Afghanistan since they were removed from power in 2001.

He had been appointed Taliban chief in July 2015 and has now been succeeded by his former deputy Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

The drone strike was one of hundreds carried out by the US but it was the first in Balochistan province in Pakistan, with previous attacks being mainly in the border tribal regions with Afghanistan.

The drone mission that led to Mansour's death was criticised by Pakistan as a violation of its sovereignty.