Reports have claimed that the former spokesperson of outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Muhammad Khorasani has allegedly been killed in an attack in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, with the banned outfit itself having negated the news as untrue.
According to the media reports, he flew to Afghanistan after the success of operation Zarb-e-Azab by the security forces. His real name was Khalid Balti and he belonged to Chorbat Valley of Gilgit Baltistan’s Ghanche District.
It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack on Khorasani, however security analysts suggest that ISKP fighters may have been behind the attack.
Khorasani became the spokesperson for the TTP succeeding Shahidullah Shahid. He was involved in the attacks on civilians and security forces of Pakistan. He operated in the Miranshah area of the country.
According to media reports, Khorasani was engaged in uniting different factions of the banned outfit. He is also said to have been planning terrorist activities against Pakistan with the head of banned TTP, Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud. Khorasani had recently hinted at various operations inside Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in light of the circulating reports, the TTP has denied that Khorasani has died in any attack, adding that he was alive and well. TTP has also asserted that they were probing about Balti and that he was not engaged with the group in any capacity currently.
This is a developing story and will be updated as reports come. Early reports of such incidents may be liable to inaccuracies.
