Former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid and 24 other militants were killed in a US drone strike earlier today, according to an Afghan news agency.
As per reports, Shahidullah Shahid was killed in a US drone strike in Nangarhar province, across the border in Afghanistan.
The identity of other militants killed in the strike has not been ascertained as yet.
Last year, Shahidullah Shahid hailing from Aurakzai Agency parted ways with the TTP and announced his decision to join “Islamic State” in a video posted online and sent to journalists.
Pakistani militants are said to be sheltering in compounds in scattered areas of Nangarhar province.
Soon after his pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State, TTP had disowned Shahidullah Shahid along with five other top commanders.
Although the TTP had not given any specific reason for disowning its one time active spokesperson, it is widely believed that he was removed after announcing his allegiance to IS and claiming responsibility for the recent attacks on security forces check post in the border area of Bajur Agency.
Shahid had claimed that TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah was also supporting IS(IL), though he hasn’t yet decided to join the group. Since the assassination of its former chief Hakimullah Mehsud in US Drone attack in November last year, the group has splintered.
Gul Zaman a militant commander of IS from Aurakzai was killed in a similar US drone attack on Thursday in Afghanistan. In the last several weeks, the US has intensified drone attacks against militants across the border in Afghanistan.
