Daesh top leader killed in Nangahar

The ISIS leader, in Afghanistan Shahidullah Shahid was killed in a drone strike in the eastern part of the country Tuesday-the one-time Pakistani Taliban commander, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) – Afghanistan’s intelligence agency announced.

For years, Shahid was the chief spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, frequently appearing in media reports to take credit for some of Pakistan’s grisliest terrorist attacks. Shahid’s public role made him a top target for Pakistani authorities.

Shahid, however, emerged as a key leader of the Islamic State’s Khorasan chapter that is seeking to gain influence in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

There was no immediate confirmation from Islamic State on Shahid’s reported death.

Though the Islamic State so far has only a limited presence in Pakistan, the group has been making inroads in Afghanistan. Shahid was also believed to be the Islamic State’s chief spokesman in Afghanistan.

At least 25 other insurgents were killed in strikes Wednesday night.

Shahid, born Sheikh Maqbool, was ousted from his Taliban post in October after he and five other members pledged allegiance to ISIS.

The groups have been fighting for territory as ISIS has expanded its influence beyond the regions of Syria and Iraq that it now controls, experts said.

The apparent U.S. drone strike targeting the Islamic State commanders coincided with the launch of peace talks this week between Afghanistan’s government and Afghan Taliban insurgency.

Taliban insurgents seek to create Sharia states based on Islamic law in Afghanistan and Pakistan, whereas ISIS militants want to create a global caliphate.