A top commander of the banned outfit Daesh-K, Muhammad Ihsani alias Anwaar, has been killed in Afghanistan’s Mazar Sharif city, the security sources said on Sunday.
Muhammad Ihsani was responsible for escorting and training Tajik suicide bombers. He was also in charge of bringing them into Pakistan, they added. He was the main facilitator in the Kocha Risaldar bombing in Peshawar. In this bombing, 67 people were martyred in 2022, sources said.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in cross-border terror incidents since Taliban rulers returned to Afghanistan in 2021. This is particularly true in the bordering provinces of KP and Balochistan. In August, the incidents surged by 74% compared to July.
According to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), this is the case. The Islamabad-based think tank recorded 194 fatalities from militant attacks during the month.
Recently, Pakistan, China, Iran and Russia have also expressed deep concern over the presence of terrorist organisations operating from Afghanistan. These groups include Al-Qaeda, the banned TTP, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and others. The four countries issued a statement after their fourth quadripartite meeting on Afghanistan. This meeting was convened by Russia on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday. They urged the Afghan authorities to take “effective, concrete and verifiable actions” against terrorist outfits. Additionally, they emphasised dismantling training camps, cutting off financing, and preventing recruitment and access to weapons. The four sides also stressed that Afghan soil must not be used against neighbours or beyond. Furthermore, they pressed for the non-discriminatory elimination of all militant groups.
Ihsani’s killing is a significant blow to Daesh-K, responsible for 15% of Pakistan’s terror incidents in 2025. The regional call for action, backed by 60% of Pakistanis, demands stronger counter-terrorism measures, highlighting shared security concerns. His death could disrupt cross-border attacks but underscores ongoing challenges in Afghanistan’s stability.
