Banned Terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan confirms the death of top TTP Commander Omar Khalid Khurasani alias Abdul Wali along with 3 other key TTP commanders in Barmal, Paktika province of Afghanistan. In a brief statement released by the Terrorist outfit, it has been confirmed that “The TTP Mohmand Chief Omar Khalid Khurasani has died along with 3 other TTP commanders including Son-in-law of Omar Khalid Khorasani Hafiz Daulat and Maulvi Hassan. The detailed statement will be issued later.”
According to local officials, on Sunday, TTP commanders were on their way to attend a consultation meeting when their vehicle was struck by an IED.
There is confirmation yet that who was behind this attack but it is pertinent to note that the attack came at a time when Pakistani authorities are engaged with TTP for the peace agreement.
TTP intelligence Wing Commander Abdul Rashid alias Uqabi Bajauri, was also targeted and killed in an IED attack in Kunar province of Afghanistan on the same day.
Who was Omar Khalid Khurasani?
Omar Khalid Khurasani was born in Mohmand Agency. After completing his religious studies, he adopted the profession of Journalism but used journalism as a tool to propagate the ideology of extremism. He joined Afghan Taliban in their fight against US and ISAF forces in Kunar and Nuristan areas.
Khurasani joined former TTP Chief Baitullah Mehsud in 2006. Baitullah Mehsud along with Khurasani laid the foundations of TTP in August 2007. TTP head Baitullah nominated Omar Khalid Khurasani as the TTP commander for Mohmand district where he developed good links with Arab, Uzbek, Chechens and Chinese Uighurs fighters.
Baitullah Mehsud and Hakim Ullah Mehsud were killed in US drone strikes and Mullah Fazlullah was declared the new chief of TTP in 2014. Over some differences with Fazalullah, Khurasani left TTP and established Jamaat ul Ahrar.
As operation Zarb-e-Azab started, Khurasani again joined hands with TTP and since then he was operating as TTP Mohmand Chief.