Suicide squad trainer: Key TTP commander gunned down in Mirali

Ashiqullah Mehsud was killed in an ambush by Sajna-led TTP faction.

MIRAMSHAH:

Ashiqullah Mehsud, an important commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Hakimullah group, was killed in an ambush by rival TTP Mehsud group in Mirali tehsil of North Waziristan Agency Thursday morning.

An official of the political administration said that Ashiqullah, who had migrated to North Waziristan after the South Waziristan operation, was on his way to his house in Hurmaz village when members of TTP Mehsud group led by Khaliq Mehsud alias Sajna attacked him.

“Ashiqullah was on foot and could not defend himself from the firing. He died instantly,” the official added.

The political administration official said that Ashiqullah was a top commander and became the master trainer of suicide bombing after the death of Qari Hussain Mehsud.

He added that members of the TTP reached the site of the incident and moved the body to an undisclosed location.

The infighting between TTP groups has continued since the clashes began in the first week of April in South Waziristan Agency, which later spread to Tank district and North Waziristan Agency. Separately, two tribesmen who were guarding the Mirali Bazaar on Wednesday night were killed accidently when security forces mistook them for militants.

One killed in Bajaur blast

One resident died and another was injured in a roadside IED blast at Nakhtar village, Bajaur Agency, said political administration official Abdul Haseeb Khan. The blast took place around 8 am, where Zubair and Amir Zaman were critically injured, but Zubair succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile, security forces established their position on the post in Mano Zangal, Kaga Pass and Mocha Top, areas near the Pak-Afghan border.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2014.