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Pakistan militant leader 'killed by drone' in Afghanistan | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The leader of a Pakistani Islamist militant group has been killed by a suspected US drone attack in Afghanistan, its spokesman says. | The leader of a Pakistani Islamist militant group has been killed by a suspected US drone attack in Afghanistan, its spokesman says. |
Omar Khalid Khorasani led Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban behind several high-profile bomb attacks inside Pakistan. | Omar Khalid Khorasani led Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban behind several high-profile bomb attacks inside Pakistan. |
Nine other militants were killed alongside him in the drone strike, the group's spokesman said. | Nine other militants were killed alongside him in the drone strike, the group's spokesman said. |
Local media report increasing numbers of drone attacks in the past week. | Local media report increasing numbers of drone attacks in the past week. |
Nearly 40 people, many of them suspected militants, have been killed along the border. | Nearly 40 people, many of them suspected militants, have been killed along the border. |
Khorasani's death comes ahead of a visit to Pakistan by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. | Khorasani's death comes ahead of a visit to Pakistan by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. |
Analysts say Islamabad has been urging Washington to target militants who attack inside Pakistan and hide over the border in Afghanistan. | Analysts say Islamabad has been urging Washington to target militants who attack inside Pakistan and hide over the border in Afghanistan. |
Rumours | Rumours |
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar admitted being behind last year's Easter Sunday bombing of Christians in a park in Lahore that killed at least 70 people, including 29 children | Jamaat-ul-Ahrar admitted being behind last year's Easter Sunday bombing of Christians in a park in Lahore that killed at least 70 people, including 29 children |
It also said it was behind the suicide attack on a hospital in Quetta that killed at least 74 people. | It also said it was behind the suicide attack on a hospital in Quetta that killed at least 74 people. |
There were rumours in recent days that Khorasani had been injured during US drone strikes along the border, and Thursday saw his group confirm his death. | There were rumours in recent days that Khorasani had been injured during US drone strikes along the border, and Thursday saw his group confirm his death. |
"Chief of our Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Omar Khalid Khorasani, who sustained serious injuries in a recent US drone strike in Afghanistan's Paktia province, succumbed to his injuries Wednesday evening," spokesman Asad Mansoor told AFP news agency by telephone. | "Chief of our Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Omar Khalid Khorasani, who sustained serious injuries in a recent US drone strike in Afghanistan's Paktia province, succumbed to his injuries Wednesday evening," spokesman Asad Mansoor told AFP news agency by telephone. |
"At least nine close associates of Khorasani were also killed in the strike", he added. | "At least nine close associates of Khorasani were also killed in the strike", he added. |
He confirmed the news when speaking to Reuters news agency. | He confirmed the news when speaking to Reuters news agency. |
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2014 but a year later said it had rejoined the Pakistani Taliban, which is allied to al-Qaeda. | Jamaat-ul-Ahrar pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2014 but a year later said it had rejoined the Pakistani Taliban, which is allied to al-Qaeda. |
Khorasani was seriously wounded in a Nato air strike in eastern Afghanistan in 2015 but recovered from his injuries. | Khorasani was seriously wounded in a Nato air strike in eastern Afghanistan in 2015 but recovered from his injuries. |
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