Senior Pakistani Taliban Leader Killed In Paktika By Afghan Forces

Afghan security forces have reportedly killed  a senior commander of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) late on Saturday night on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, reports revealed.

Raees Khan also known as Azam Tariq, considered the TTP’s fourth top leader, was killed in the air strikes in Laman area of Afghanistan’s Paktika province that borders Pakistan’s Waziristan, RFE/RL Radio Free Afghanistan reported.

A TTP commander loyal to Tariq have confirmed his killing with at least another 10 Pakistani Taliban in Paktika province in a phone contact with AFP News Agency.

According to the reports officials from the Afghan ministry of defense have also confirmed the air strikes and said three Al-Qaeda commanders and six other members had been killed.

Tariq was born in Pakistan and worked as a school teacher before joining the country’s offshoot of the Taliban. After that he served as spokesperson to then-commander of the organization, Hakimullah Mehsud who was killed in a US drone attack.

Afghan and NATO forces have increasingly targeted Islamic State, Haqqani network, and Pakistani Taliban position in eastern Afghanistan.

Both Kabul and Islamabad have accused each other of facilitating militants and engagement in attacks that undermine regional stability.

By: Hesamuddin Hesam