Da’ish leader ‘killed in drone strike’

KABUL/ PESHAWAR: The leader of Islamic State’s branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been killed in a US drone strike, the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan said on Friday, though the American military said it could not confirm that.

If true, the death of Hafiz Saeed Khan would strike a blow to efforts by Middle East-based Islamic State -- also known as Isis and Daesh -- to expand its control over territory and its jihadist brand into Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal told Reuters he had seen confirmation from Afghan security forces on Khan’s death.

“I can confirm that Isis Khurasan (Afghanistan and Pakistan) leader Hafiz Saeed Khan along with his senior commanders and fighters died in a US drone strike on July 26 in Kot district of Afghanistan’s Nangharhar province,” he said. US military spokesman Colonel Michael Lawhorn said American forces in Afghanistan “are aware of those reports and we are looking into it” but have not yet confirmed Saeed Khan’s death.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2016.