Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Afghanistan

Senior TTP leader Omar Khalid Khorasani killed in Afghanistan, Taliban spokesperson confirms

2022-08-10

More on this story from yesterday.

[DAWN] Senior Tehrik-e-Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
Pakistain (TTP) leader Omar Khalid Khorasani and two others members of the banned outfit were killed in a roadside kaboom in Afghanistan on Monday, according to Taliban front man Muhamamad Khorasani.

Omar's real name was Abdul Wali Mohmand and he previously headed the TTP in the Mohmand Agency
... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
and Kunar...
bordering Afghanistan.

In a statement today, TTP officials said that the car carrying Omar came under attack in the eastern Paktika
...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo...
province near the Barmal district on Sunday evening.

They urged the Taliban government in Afghanistan to investigate the incident and unearth "spies" who could be responsible for the death of senior TTP leaders.

Apart from Omar, the two other men killed in the attack have been identified as Mufti Hassan and Hafiz Dawlat Khan. They were among several TTP leaders who had joined the outlawed ISIS in 2014.

It is pertinent to mention here that Omar was a member of the TTP team involved in negotiations with Pak officials, Pashtoon jirgas and recently with religious scholars over the past few weeks.

Recently, a jirga member had posted the TTP leader's photo on the sideline of its meeting with Pakistain's side which had held two rounds of talks in Kabul in the first week of June and late July.

Omar and a majority of the TTP members from Mohmand agency had parted ways with the TTP and formed a splinter faction Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain Jamaat Ahrar (TTP-JA) in 2014.

The then TTP chief Maulvi Fazalullah had sacked him after he had announced the formation of his own group Jamaat ul Ahrar, which comprised of almost all the Taliban leaders from the Mohmad Agency. Omar had accused the TTP leadership of deviating from the outfit's ideology.

The group received prominence when Jamaat-ul-Ahrar front man Ehsanullah Ehsan

...formerly the front man for the Pak Taliban, then the lips and tongue of the Jamaatul Ahrar splinter group in Mohmand Agency...
grabbed credit for the Wagah border suicide kaboom in November 2014, in which over 70 people, almost all civilians, were killed.

The TTP leader's killing could be seen as a major blow to the group, especially at a time when it is involved in talks with the Pak government.

Omar was wanted by the Pak government for his involvement in a series of attacks on security forces, tribal elders and members of the peace committee in the area.

In July 2017, one of the UN Security Council’s sanctions committees, upon Pakistain’s request, had approved the addition of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar in the list of entities and individuals subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Jane reached into her purse for her .38...
the United States added Omar's name to the US State Department's Rewards for Justice wanted list in March 2018. The US had announced a reward of up to $3 million for information on him.

In recent years, several TTP leaders, including former chief Maulvi Fazallah, have been killed in Afghanistan after they crossed into the border due to military operation in the tribal areas, Swat
...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat...
and parts of the Malakand division. Fazlullah, who served the TTP chief in Swat, was killed in a US dronezap in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province
... which is right down the road from Chitral. Kunar is Haqqani country.....
in June 2018.

Tolo News adds:

Meanwhile, some sources said that Khurasani was present in the negotiations which were reportedly held between the TTP and Pakistani government in Kabul.

The political analysts gave various views on the killing of Khurasani.

“To gain money and weapons from the US, (Pakistan) should always declare an enemy and that enemy is now TTP. This is an enemy who could be controlled everywhere and they can eliminate it anywhere they want to,” said Sher Hassan Hassan, a political analyst.

“I think there are disagreements among the TTP. Usually, whenever there are peace negotiations, the hardliners are on one side and the moderates are on the other side. I think it is about the internal disagreements among the TTP,” said Waheed Faqiri, a political analyst.

Khurasani was the chief of Jamat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), a TTP branch that is designated a terrorist group by the United Nations and United States, according to Reuters.

Link

India-Pakistan

Four TTP militants get jail

2022-02-13

[Dawn] An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday handed down two-year jail term each to four Death Eaters belonging to the banned Tahreek-e-Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
Pakistain (TTP) and Jamaat Ulema-e-Ahrar (JUA),

... JUA is a splinter group of TTP that retreats to its base in Lalpura, Nangarhar Province...

besides ordering confiscation of their properties.

ATC Judge Nasir Hussain handed down the sentence to the four men for possessing explosives which they wanted to use in attacks on sensitive installations in Bahawalpur city and Sammsatta during 2021.

The convicts — Naik Amal, Nazir Khan, Hayatullah and Lalzada — belonged to

Link

Afghanistan

NDS kills key ‘Daesh Commander’ in Nangarhar

2021-03-16

[KhaamaPress] According to the local officials, NDS’ special operatives clashed with Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
turbans (ISIS) in the Mohmand district of eastern Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
on Sunday night.

National Directorate of Security
...the Afghan national intel agency...
(NDS) special forces clashed with Islamic State turbans in Mohmand district of eastern Nangarhar province on Sunday night, killing the district chief, Mahmood Jan, officials said.

"Mahmood Jan", the ISI-K district chief was killed during the operation.

Sources indicated that the killed individual was a well-known ISIS fighter and the group’s commander, who time to time plotted ~~violent~~ mostly peaceful attacks on security forces.

A provincial official reported that the Afghan cops arrested three other ISIS members.

Meanwhile,
...back at the revival hall, the congregants were being herded into the paddy wagon...
Mohammad Saber Tokhi an area representative in the Qalat district was targeted by an IED explosion.

Hekmatullah Kochi, commander of Zabul police told the media, that the incident happened at around 9:00 am this morning in the Chowk area in Qalat city.

Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
took the responsibility for the attack.

This comes despite peace efforts in Afghanistan, just recently Los Angeles times reported that Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said that the war in the country will intensify and the Taliban could threaten major cities unless the Biden administration does not push for an end to the conflict within the coming two months.

LA TIMES quoted Gen. McKenzie saying: "If we withdraw and no deal was made with the Taliban, I think the government of Afghanistan is going to be in for a very stiff fight to retain possession of towns and cities".

President Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...
and General McKenzie had a meeting on Saturday in Kabul, both discussed the security situation, the grinding of the peace processor, and America’s support to Afghan national defense and security forces.

The war in the country is so complex at a level that Interior Ministry front man Tariq Arian said that according to the MoI investigations, a private media outlet was involved in the transfer of explosives.

He added there are serious questions in this regard and that MoI is working to find the desired answer for it.

Arian did not provide any further details about the media outlet.

Link

India-Pakistan

Govt making efforts to arrest Ehsanullah Ehsan: Ijaz Shah

2020-02-24

[The News (Pak)] Interior Minister Ijaz Shah Saturday said the government was making efforts to apprehend the former spokesperson of the Tehrik-e-Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
Pakistain (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) who beat feet from the state's custody a few weeks ago.

The interior minister was speaking to media after a tree plantation ceremony at the District Commissioner's office. Talking about Ehsanullah Ehsan

...formerly the front man for the Pak Taliban, then the lips and tongue of the Jamaatul Ahrar splinter group in Mohmand Agency...
's escape from custody, he said that efforts were being made to arrest him.

Last week, Shah admitted for the first time that the ex-TTP spokesperson had escaped the state's custody after an audio message of the holy warrior stating the same started doing the rounds on social media.

Link

India-Pakistan

News of Ehsanullah Ehsan's escape is 'true', state is aware, says Interior Minister Ijaz Shah

2020-02-18

[DAWN] The news that former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan

...formerly the front man for the Pak Taliban, then the lips and tongue of the Jamaatul Ahrar splinter group in Mohmand Agency...
has escaped from the custody of Pakistan security agencies is true, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah confirmed on Monday.
The scene: A palatial residence outside Abbottabad. The characters: Evil mastermind Ehsanullah Ehsan, under palatial house arrest, and his guard, Mahmoud.
Responding to a question during an informal conversation with reporters at the parliament in Islamabad, the minister said he had read reports of the former TTP leader having fled.
Ehsanullah: "Hey, Mahmoud! Call me a cab!"
Mahmoud: "I can't do that. Yer under house arrest!"
When asked whether there was any truth to the reports, he replied: "The news is true, it's true."
Ehsanullah: "No, I'm not."
Mahmoud: "You ain't?"
The minister added that the "state is aware" of his escape. He did not provide any details.
Ehsanullah: "Nah. They're lettin' me out."
Mahmoud: "Fer really?"
Asked by a reporter whether the state was doing anything about the matter, Shah said: "A lot is being done. You will hear good news."
Ehsanullah: "Would I lie to you?"
Mahmoud: "Well... Youse got a honest face."
The confirmation comes following around 10 days of official silence over reports of the former TTP spokesman's escape, which had been announced by him in an audio message released on social media.
Ehsanullah: "Ain't I?"
Mahmoud: "Hello? Is dis Choudry's Cab Company? I got a fare for youse..."

Link

India-Pakistan

Families of APS martyrs approach CJP over Ehsanullah Ehsan's reported escape

2020-02-14

[DAWN] Families of students martyred during the Army Public School (APS) massacre on Thursday approached Chief Justice of Pakistain Gulzar Ahmed over the reported escape of former Tehrik-e-Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
Pakistain (TTP) front man Ehsanullah Ehsan

...formerly the front man for the Pak Taliban, then the lips and tongue of the Jamaatul Ahrar splinter group in Mohmand Agency...
In their application, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the families of 15 students said: "We the families of Shuhada-e-APS are under severe shock and completely traumatised after hearing of the said news of release/fleeing of the known terrorist and spokesperson of TTP from the custody of the army along with his family after spending three years with them. The cruel terrorist has already confessed [to] the gruesome attack on [APS], killing 147 students and staff and many more terrorist incidents in the country."

In the application, the parents questioned how the former holy warrior was able to leave the country. "How could he flee from custody or whether he is released with some conditions," the application read, adding that "what kind of agreement was made with [Ehsan] to keep him alive for three years despite his confessional statement for being involved in many killings of students and staff of APS."

The application urged the authorities concerned to explain "why the state failed in bringing [Ehsan] to justice".

Link

India-Pakistan

Ehsanullah Ehsan escapes from custody

2020-02-09

[DAWN] Parents and family members of the children who were martyred in the terrorist attack targeting Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistain's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire...
's Army Public School filed a petition with the Peshawar High Court on Saturday, seeking contempt of court proceedings against multiple government officials following reports of former TTP front man Ehsanullah Ehsan

...formerly the front man for the Pak Taliban, then the lips and tongue of the Jamaatul Ahrar splinter group in Mohmand Agency...
’s escape from custody.

The petition, submitted by Shuhada APS Forum President Fazal Khan Advocate, said that the respondents, which include the army chief, the director general of the ISI, as well as the federal and provincial secretaries, had violated earlier orders of the PHC barring authorities from releasing Ehsan.

"Despite clear cut directions of this honourable court [...], now it has come to light that [a] luxurious home [was provided to Ehsan] from which the terrorist has made his escape: a fact not denied by the respondents," reads the petition, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.

"The petitioner has been informed through reliable sources that clemency was in order of Ehsanullah Ehsan for his ’full and frank disclosure’ which is not only highly deplorable but also outrightly illegal and unconstitutional," the writ petition says, adding that the respondents had earlier assured the court that Ehsan would be tried by a military court and would not be granted clemency.

Link

India-Pakistan

Karachi man sentenced to 10 years in jail for collecting funds for TTP

2018-08-23

[DAWN] An antiterrorism court has sentenced a convict to 10 years in jail for collecting funds for Talibs and their wings fighting security agencies in

Mohmand Agency
... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
and Kunar...
.

Ismail Khan was charged with collecting funds for the Tehrik-e-Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
Pakistain faction.

The ATC-X judge, who conducted trial in judicial complex inside the Central Jail Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
, pronounced his verdict after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge observed that the prosecution proved its charges against the detained accused beyond a shadow of a doubt and convicted him under Section 11-F(6) and 11-W(2) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The judge awarded him a sentence of five-years rigorous imprisonment in each section with a fine of Rs100,000. On default, Khan was ordered to undergo additional six-month rigorous imprisonment. Both sentences will run concurrently.

The Counter-Terrorism Department officials, on a tip-off about presence of a man belonging to proscribed outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain, tossed in the clink
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
Hazrat Khan at the Numaish Chowrangi on January 31.

During his search, the officials recovered two receipt books printed with ’Chanda Barae Mujahideen Lawahiqeen Aal Saafi Mohmand Welfare Association, Karachi, Sindh’, from him.

According to the prosecution, the detained man disclosed during interrogation that he had been collecting alms with the connivance of his accomplice Aurangzeb Mohmand and collected Rs8,600 each from 18 persons.

He further disclosed that his other accomplice had left for Mohmand Agency along with the collected alms for providing aid to the TTP’s Qari Shakeel Group. He was booked under the Section 11-F(6) and 11-W(2) read with the Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Section 11-F relates to membership, support and meetings related to a proscribed organization and sub-section (6) provides that "a person guilty of an offence under sub-sections (3),(4), and (5) shall be liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment, not less than one year and not more than five years and a fine".

Section 11-W pertains to printing, publishing or disseminating any material to incite hatred or giving projection to any person convicted for a terrorist act or any proscribed organization or an organization placed under observation or anyone concerned in terrorism.

Sub-section 2 provides that "any person guilty of an offence under sub-section (1) shall be punishable on conviction with imprisonment which may extend to five years and with fine."

During the trial, defence counsel Shahzad Abdullah argued that the accused was arrested by the law enforcement agency on December 12, 2017, but he was sent to the higher authorities after a delay of 10 days. He added that the father of his client had moved an application to the high-ups regarding alleged detention of his son.

The court found nothing on record to suggest the fate of such application and as to whether any inquiry was held or any adverse action was taken in this regard at any forum concerned.

The prosecution argued that the police record showed that the detained accused remained involved in other cases and was a hardened and desperate person/criminal.

Link

India-Pakistan

Soldier martyred in cross-border attack on post

2018-04-27

[Dawn] GHALANAI: One paramilitary soldier lost his life in an exchange of fire with suspected gunnies who raided a check-post in

Link

India-Pakistan

FC soldier martyred, another injured in Mohmand gun attack

2018-03-19

[DAWN] A Frontier Constabulary (FC) soldier was martyred and another injured when person or persons unknown shot up their vehicle in

...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set...
workers were killed, while three others were kidnapped in the same area last night.

Sources in the political administration said the assailants managed to escape after the attack. The site of the attack has been cordoned off.

Security officials in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas are made the target of myrmidon attacks. At least 11 security officials were martyred when a jacket wallah went kaboom! near a Pakistain Army camp in Kabal area of Swat
...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat...
last month.

Link

India-Pakistan

2 polio workers killed in Mohmand Agency, 3 abducted

2018-03-18

[DAWN] Two polio

Link

India-Pakistan

3 FC soldiers martyred, 5 terrorists killed in cross-border attack in Mohmand Agency

2017-12-23

[DAWN] Three Frontiers Corps personnel were martyred when suspected holy warriors opened fire on their team from across the Pak-Afghan border in

Link

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