Former TTP leader Shahidullah Shahid killed in US drone strike

Afghan intelligence confirms he was killed along with 24 militants in a drone strike in Nangarhar province

Former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid and 24 other militants were killed in a US drone strike on Thursday, according to reports.

As per reports, Shahidullah Shahid was killed in a US drone strike in Nangarhar province, across the border in Afghanistan.

BREAKING: Shahidullah Shahid, leader of Daesh in Afghanistan and former Pakistani Taliban spokesman, killed in Nangarhar drone attack: NDS

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) July 9, 2015

The identity of other militants killed in the strike is yet to be learnt.

The Afghan intelligence agency confirmed Shahidullah Shahid has been killed in a drone strike.

“It was confirmed today that a senior leader of IS group for Khorasan region, Shahidullah Shahid, has been killed in a drone strike,” the Afghan spy agency, National Directorate of Security, said.

However, there was no confirmation of the NDS claim by the Islamic State.

Shahidullah Shahid previously known as Sheikh Maqbool had served as the spokesperson for the TTP but joined Islamic State in October last year.

“Shahidullah Shahid wanted to plan a major war in the region and present himself as  a top leader of the terrorist group,” the Afghan intelligence said.

Read: TTP spokesperson, five other leaders declare allegiance to Islamic State

The NDS spokesman Haseeb Sediqi said earlier that at least 25 insurgents were reportedly killed in drone strikes Wednesday night in Nangarhar. The strikes were carried out on a gathering of the insurgents in Dih Bala district.

The strike comes two days after about 60 insurgents, including the Islamic States’ commander in Afghanistan, Gul Zaman, and his deputy Jahanyar were reportedly killed as a result of drone strikes in the same province.

Read: Allegiance to IS: TTP disowns its spokesperson

Islamic State has established bases in Nangarhar where its supporters are involved in clashes with the Afghan Taliban in recent weeks.

A senior Taliban leader, Maulvi Anwarul Haq Mujahid says over 80 fighters of the Taliban and IS have been killed in parts of Nangarhar since May 10. Several Afghan Taliban leaders, including the Taliban shadow governor, Gul Seerat and his deputy Asmatullah have joined the Islamic State.

The killing of Shahidullah Shahid in Afghanistan proves that most of the Pakistani militants have crossed to the Afghan side of the border and operate from there.