A senior commander of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Rahimullah, widely known as Shaheed Umar Bajauri, was killed alongside three associates in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, according to Pakistani media reports.
Bajauri, a key figure in the TTP and a member of its military commission, was reportedly ambushed by unidentified gunmen in the Shigal district of Kunar after attending a gathering.
Bajauri was a senior military strategist for the TTP and played a pivotal role in organizing attacks against Pakistan’s military, particularly in border regions. He was a close ally of TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud and previously served as the group’s shadow governor in Dera Ismail Khan.
The Pakistani military had offered a bounty of 10 million rupees for his capture. Bajauri spent eight years imprisoned in Afghanistan’s Bagram detention facility before being released following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The killing of Bajauri underscores concerns about Afghanistan being used as a base for extremist activities, according to experts.
“Bajauri’s death reveals that militant groups like the TTP continue to operate from Afghan soil, which confirms the fears of neighboring countries, especially Pakistan,” said Mohammad Radmanesh, a security analyst.
The TTP, one of several extremist groups active in Afghanistan, is estimated to have 6,000 to 6,500 fighters, according to a United Nations monitoring group. The organization has been accused of using Afghanistan as a staging ground for cross-border attacks on Pakistan.
The Taliban have consistently denied the presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan. However, the assassination of Bajauri highlights the group’s significant footprint in the country and raises questions about the Taliban’s control over such factions.
Profile of Umar Bajauri
Senior Commander: A member of the TTP’s military commission.
Key Planner: Instrumental in orchestrating attacks on Pakistani forces.
Shadow Governor: Former TTP-appointed governor in Dera Ismail Khan.
Bagram Prisoner: Detained for eight years in Afghanistan before release in 2021.
Bounty: Had a 10-million-rupee reward on his capture.
Neither the Pakistani military nor the Taliban have officially commented on Bajauri’s death. However, Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about the presence of TTP leadership in Afghanistan.
The killing has reignited debates about the Taliban’s ability — or willingness — to curtail militant activities on Afghanistan’s soil, further straining relations between Taliban and Islamabad.
