Prominent commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Abdul Manan, also known as Hakeemullah, was reportedly killed in the Chaghasarai area of Asadabad district in Afghanistan’s Kunar province on Wednesday.
His death marks a significant blow to the militant organization, reflecting ongoing internal strife among various armed groups in the region.
Hakeemullah was closely associated with the TTP Malakand Shura and had served as an aide to Wali, orchestrating terrorist operations in Bajaur. His criminal activities included targeted assassinations, landmine explosions, attacks on security checkpoints, and extortion.
This event follows closely on the heels of the death of another TTP commander, Talha Swati, also known as part of the Fazlullah group from Swat.
Swati was killed under mysterious circumstances in broad daylight after Friday prayers in the same province last April. He served as an intelligence chief in the Barikot area and was reputedly involved with reporting on the activities of rival militant factions like Jammatul Ahrar to the South District Taliban and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
The exact circumstances of Swati’s death remain unclear, with conflicting reports suggesting he may have been targeted by ISKP or fallen victim to an internal dispute within the TTP itself.
Following his death, members of the Swati group demanded retribution, indicating deeper rifts within the militant landscape in Afghanistan.
These recent fatalities underscore the volatile and fragmented nature of militant leadership within the region and signify potential weakening of the TTP’s operational capabilities amidst ongoing factional conflicts.
