Azam Khan Tariq, the former spokesperson for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was killed reportedly in air strikes carried out by Afghan and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in Paktika province, said the spokesman for Sajna Group, which had broken away from the TTP in May 2014.
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Tariq, who had a 20 million rupee bounty on his head, was also known as Raess Khan and reportedly killed late yesterday.
“I confirm the killing of Azam Tariq along with at least 10 other Pakistani Taliban in Paktika province”, AFP quoted a senior militant commander loyal to Tariq as saying.
Pakistani security officials believe that majority of the Taliban belong to Sajna group living in Paktika province after they entered Afghanistan in the wake of military operations in Waziristan tribal region.
In 2009 the Pakistani government offered US$5 million (RM20.63 million) for information leading to the capture of TTP commanders.
Afghan authorities confirmed the air strikes and said three Al-Qaeda commanders and six other members had been killed.
The slain leader had previously worked as the spokesman for the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and was working as spokesman for the Taliban faction led by a senior commander, Khan Sayed alias Sajna.
But Kabul has accused Islamabad of targeting only Pakistani Taliban fighters, who are fighting to overthrow the Pakistani government, and giving free rein to other militant groups fighting Afghan and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in neighboring Afghanistan.
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Both Kabul and Islamabad have consistently accused each other of facilitating militants and engagement in attacks that undermine regional stability.
