U.S Military Wants More Power To Strike Taliban

The death of the Taliban's leader in a U.S drone strike has scrambled discussions between the U.S military and the White House over whether to let American troops once again conduct offensive operations against the insurgent group in Afghanistan, reports the Wall Street Journal.
According to the newspaper, the American military wants presidential permission to use airpower against the insurgent group.
The report stated that several U.S officials said the White House first wants to see what effect the death of Mullah Akhtar Mansour in Pakistan will have on the Taliban.
U.S troops carried out a drone strike in Baluchistan, Pakistan, on Saturday targeting a vehicle Mansour was believed to be traveling in.
On Monday, U.S President Barack Obama confirmed Mansour had been killed in the attack.
According to the WSJ report, his death came amid indications of an impending Taliban offensive.
U.S intelligence agencies reportedly warned the White House that the insurgent group could siege more Afghan territory, including cities, during this summer's fighting season.
In line with this, the newspaper report indicates that U.S military officials want to use American planes to counter the Taliban this summer. But in doing so, the so-called rules of engagement would have to be revised.
However, the WSJ reports that Obama is not inclined to restart combat operations against the Taliban.
While global players reacted to the news of Mansour's death on Monday, foreign media reports indicated that senior Afghan Taliban members met on Monday to discuss a successor to Mansour.
So far however, the Taliban has not issued a formal statement confirming his death.
But senior Taliban members were reported to have met Monday to discuss Mansour's successor.
According to Reuters, Taliban members confirmed the Quetta Shura held a meeting to discuss who the group's new leader would be.
No details have yet emerged as to what the outcome was.
Pakistan meanwhile slammed the drone attack and said it was a violation of the country's sovereignty.
But Pakistani media reported that speculation grew across the country about the identity of the person killed in the attack – to whom a passport and ID card belonged. Pakistani officials said both bodies, reportedly of Mansour and the driver, were burnt beyond recognition.
The passport and ID card found at the wreckage were in the name of Mohammad Wali.
Although the photographs on both documents closely resemble photographs of Mansour, it could not be ascertained whether the documents were counterfeit or genuine, reported Reuters.