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US Drone Attack Kills Senior IS Leader

The militant commander, whose real name is Sheikh Maqbool Orakzai, parted ways with the TTP and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, head of IS in October past year.

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Shahidullah Shahid, an ex-spokesman for the Taliban in Pakistan, died in the Achin district in Nangarhar province, alongside a deputy commander and five others, TOLOnews reported Thursday, citing the National Directorate of Security.

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

Shahid was the IS leader for Afghanistan’s Khorasan province.

Shahid had claimed that TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah was also supporting IS, though he hasn’t yet chose to join the group.

There was no immediate confirmation from Islamic State on Shahid’s reported death.

At least 27 journalists, including 16 foreigners, have been killed either by Taliban militants or other illegal armed groups, since the Taliban regime was toppled by U.S.-led coalition forces in late 2001.

The Taliban have warned Islamic State to stay out of Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, Afghan intelligence officials unveiled a new anti-terrorism unit to prevent Islamic State from establishing a presence in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Both U.S and Afghan military commanders have said they are searching for him.

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The first session was held Tuesday night near the Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad.

Kabul plans detailed Taliban talks on ending bloodshed