Top Pakistani Taliban Official Killed In Afghanistan

Local media in Pakistan reported that Balti had been shot dead by unidentified gunmen…

EKO HOT BLOG reports that a senior leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistan Taliban or TTP) has been killed in eastern Afghanistan, Pakistani security officials say, as a peace talks process between the armed group and the government remain stalled.

Khalid Balti, also known by the nom de guerre Muhammad Khorasani when he served as the spokesperson of the group, was killed in Nangarhar province, a security source told Al Jazeera on Tuesday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media on the issue.

“It is clear that the person who was killed is Khalid Balti,” said the official, while also confirming the killing took place in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, along the border with Pakistan.

When asked about the circumstances of the killing, he said, “We are trying to get that information.”

Local media in Pakistan reported that Balti had been shot dead by unidentified gunmen, but the source was unable to confirm those reports.

In a statement, the Pakistani Taliban, said that “investigations were ongoing” into the reports that Balti had been killed.

“It should be remembered that Mufti Khalid Balti did not currently have any responsibilities in [the Pakistan Taliban],” the statement said.

Balti’s alias of Muhammad Khorasani became a moniker for each successive Pakistan Taliban spokesperson, and the group clarified that the current spokesperson was “alive and well”.

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