Daesh Khorasan Leader Reportedly Killed in Afghanistan
© AP Photo / Rahmat Gul
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The Taliban* - which stormed back to power in Kabul in 2021 - and the global terrorist organization Daesh** are sworn enemies, fighting each other in war-torn Afghanistan.
Daesh Khorasan leader Sanaullah Ghafari, alias Shahab al-Muhajir, has been killed in Afghanistan's Kunar province, multiple Pakistani media outlets reported on Friday.
Ghafari became the chief of Daesh's local arm in April 2020 before carrying out a series of deadly attacks in several countries, including Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.
He was declared a global terrorist by the United States, the European Union (EU), and United Nations in 2019. Subsequently, the UN Security Council put him on its sanctions list and he carried a $10m million bounty on his head.
Ghafari became the chief of Daesh's local arm in April 2020 before carrying out a series of deadly attacks in several countries, including Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.
He was declared a global terrorist by the United States, the European Union (EU), and United Nations in 2019. Subsequently, the UN Security Council put him on its sanctions list and he carried a $10m million bounty on his head.
Ghafari's reported death is being described as a major victory for the Taliban and Pakistan by the Islamabad-based press.
He was wanted in Pakistan for his involvement in the suicide bombing of the Islamic nation's embassy in Kabul. Also, he was believed to be the mastermind behind the terror strike at a local market in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
On the other hand, under Ghafari's leadership, Daesh Khorasan had become the main challenger to Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
The terrorist group had even claimed responsibility for the killing of the provincial governor of Balkh province in March and the recent car bomb attack on the deputy governor of Badakhshan province in Afghanistan.
Following the death of Mawlawi Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, who served as the acting governor of Badakhshan, the chief of the Taliban's armed forces Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat promised to punish Daesh fighters behind the attack.
Even though the Taliban has not issued an official statement regarding Ghafari's reported death, Pakistani media said that he died in mysterious circumstances which is widely suspected to be a revenge killing on behalf of the current rulers of Afghanistan.
He was wanted in Pakistan for his involvement in the suicide bombing of the Islamic nation's embassy in Kabul. Also, he was believed to be the mastermind behind the terror strike at a local market in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
On the other hand, under Ghafari's leadership, Daesh Khorasan had become the main challenger to Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
The terrorist group had even claimed responsibility for the killing of the provincial governor of Balkh province in March and the recent car bomb attack on the deputy governor of Badakhshan province in Afghanistan.
Following the death of Mawlawi Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, who served as the acting governor of Badakhshan, the chief of the Taliban's armed forces Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat promised to punish Daesh fighters behind the attack.
Even though the Taliban has not issued an official statement regarding Ghafari's reported death, Pakistani media said that he died in mysterious circumstances which is widely suspected to be a revenge killing on behalf of the current rulers of Afghanistan.
*The Taliban is under UN sanctions over terrorist activities.
**Daesh Khorasan is a terrorist group banned in many nations, including Russia.
