Unmanned campaign: US drone kills 5 TTP men in Nangarhar

The slain militants belonged to Mohmand Agency

PESHAWAR: A US drone killed at least five suspected militants in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on Sunday.

The early morning strike took place at Chaknawar in the Lal Pura area, which borders Khyber Agency in Pakistan, Pakistani officials stationed in Torkham told The Express Tribune.

“The drone launched two missiles at a vehicle carrying the suspected militants, destroying it and killing all five of them on the spot,” said an official.

Although their exact identities could not be ascertained, sources in Afghanistan and in Pakistan’s tribal areas said the dead militants belonged to Mohmand Agency and were associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Earlier, the number of slain militants was put at six.

Nangarhar has been the focus of US drone attacks in recent months, many of which have taken place in areas which dot the border with Pakistan.

Most notably, a drone strike in the province killed former TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid earlier this month. Shahid, who was once one of TTP’s most recognisable figures, had declared his allegiance for the Islamic State along with several top Taliban leaders last year. He was subsequently appointed by the group as the spokesman for the ‘Khorasan’ region, which includes both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A large number of TTP militants are reportedly hiding in areas of Afghanistan which border Pakistan, after being pushed out by the military offensives in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency. Although it is difficult to keep a track of drone strikes which take place in Afghanistan –many of them take place in remote regions and are not reported – Taliban commanders say there fighters in the country have been increasingly targeted since late last year.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2015.