President Obama on Monday confirmed the death of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.
Mansoor was killed Saturday in a U.S. airstrike in a remote area of Pakistan.
"We have removed the leader of an organization that has continued to plot against and unleash attacks on American and Coalition forces, to wage war against the Afghan people, and align itself with extremist groups like al-Qaeda," Obama said in a statement issued by the White House.
Mansoor, who was believed to be around 48, formally assumed the leadership of the Taliban last year following the death of Mullah Mohammad Omar.
Obama said he rejected efforts by the Afghan government to seriously engage in peace talks.
“The Taliban should seize the opportunity to pursue the only real path for ending this long conflict - joining the Afghan government in a reconciliation process that leads to lasting peace and stability,” he said.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter said protecting American forces wherever they are "will always be one of my top priorities."
"The confirmation that our precision airstrike Saturday killed Taliban leader Mullah Mansur makes clear my commitment to address threats to our troops, NATO forces, Afghan military personnel and the innocent Afghan civilians who are working together so bravely to improve security in that country," he said in a statement Monday.
"Removing Mansur from the battlefield eliminates one roadblock to peace in Afghanistan," he added.
Mansoor was elected head of the Taliban in July but was effectively in charge of the group since the death of the reclusive Mullah Omar as early as 2013, according to the Afghan government. The one-eyed, secretive Mullah Omar hosted Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in the years leading up to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
In July, Sirajuddin Haqqani was named the Taliban's new deputy leader. It was not immediately clear who will succeed Mansoor.
