Militant group confirms killing of top commander

Spokesperson Dawar made confirmation in a statement shared with the media

PESHAWAR:

The Jumbish e Umeri, a known militant group affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has confirmed that its top commander has been killed in a security forces operation in the North Waziristan tribal district last week.

A spokesperson for the group, Zarar Dawar, made the confirmation in a statement shared with the media. It said that Commander Abdul Razzaq Saddam was killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, on July 27.

The confirmation from Dawar came after the news of the killing of Saddam spread on TTP's social media groups. The military has said in a statement on July 27 that Saddam was a close associate of Hafiz Gul Bahadur.

The military also said that Saddam was involved in several terrorist activities in the area, including target killing of Malik Sher Muhammad, grandson of Faqir of Ipi on January 6, 2023 as well as facilitating a suicide bombing in North Waziristan on March 16, 2024 which resulted in Shahadat of seven soldiers.

Saddam's killing is a huge blow to the Jumbish-e-Umeri group as he was a member of the group's reforms committee. He received his early education from a seminary in North Waziristan, and later went to Karak, Hangu, Bannu, and Charsadda districts to pursue further education in different madrassahs.

Saddam joined Sawad-e-Azam in 2009 under the patronage of Mufti Sadiq Noor to fight the insurgency against the US-led forces in the Afghan provinces of Paktia and Khost. In 2017, when a militant commander Alamgir, aka Umeri, formed Jumbish-e-Umeri, Saddam joined the group and became a member of its reforms committee.

Five terrorists killed

Separately, a policeman embraced martyrdom, while five terrorists were killed by the security forces in three separate operations in in Mohmand, Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan districts of K-P, the military said in a statement on Monday.

According to the ISPR, Police Constable Abrar Hussain, from the Swabi district "having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat" in an intense fire exchange during an IBO in Mohmand district. It said that three terrorists were neutralised, while their hideout was busted and a cache of explosives was recovered.

"In another intelligence based operation conducted in Dera Ismail Khan District, security forces effectively engaged terrorists' location," the ISPR statement said. during the IBO, a terrorist, identified as Sifatullah was killed, and three other were injured.

"Kharji Sifatullah was involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area, including facilitation of suicide bombing attack in Daraban on 12 December 2023 and was highly wanted by law-enforcement agencies," the media wing of the military said.

Another terrorist was killed "in a third engagement in North Waziristan," the ISPR said. "Pakistan's Security Forces stand shoulder to shoulder with other law-enforcement agencies to ensure peace and stability across Pakistan and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve," it added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the officers and personnel of security forces for launching successful operations against terrorists at three separate places and killed five of them. He paid tribute to PC Ibrar Hussain who embraced martyrdom during fight with the terrorists.

"The joint operation of the security forces proved that the terrorists cannot escape from the officers and soldiers, who are determined to defend their homeland, Shehbaz said. (WITH INPUT FROM OUR RAWALPINDI CORRESPONDENT)