Top Afghan Taliban leader killed in northern Pakistan

By Islam Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

A top Afghan Taliban leader was shot dead by Daesh-affiliated militants in northern Pakistan on Friday, the Afghan Taliban has confirmed.

Mawlavi Mohammad Daud was on his way to Shamshato, a large Afghan refugee camp near the city of Peshawar, when armed men fired on his motorbike, killing him on the spot, local police officer Taj Ali told Anadolu Agency on the phone.

“We were told by the local Afghan community that Muhammad Daud was a teacher in a local Afghan madrasah inside the Shamshato camp but we are still investigating,” he added.

The Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack Saturday night, saying they killed Daud, who was fighting against Daesh in Nangarhar, Afghanistan.

According to Afghan Taliban sources, Mawlavi Daud was the head of the Taliban council in Peshawar and also led local Taliban fighters in Nangarhar’s Kot district last year against Daesh.

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the killing, accusing the Afghan Intelligence Agency (NDS) of carrying out the assassination through Daesh militants.

This latest Daesh attack on a Taliban leader comes days after deadly clashes broke out between the Taliban and Daesh in Afghanistan’s northern Jawzjan, where over 90 insurgents were reportedly killed during clashes last week.