A senior commander of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Bahadur Zaman alias Abdullah Bajauri, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, security sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident took place in the Chowgam area, where unidentified assailants opened fire on the high-ranking militant figure, killing him on the spot. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the assassination.
Bahadur Bajauri’s killing in Afghan territory adds weight to Pakistan’s longstanding concerns that TTP terrorists have been using Afghan soil as a safe haven to orchestrate attacks inside Pakistan. The development also comes amid ongoing diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Kabul.
During his recent visit to Kabul, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received assurances from Afghan authorities that Afghan soil would not be used against Pakistan. Afghan officials specifically pledged that no suicide bombers would be allowed to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
Analysts see the killing as a significant development in the regional security landscape, possibly signalling internal rifts or targeted eliminations of rogue elements operating near the border. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan interim government to take decisive action against TTP militants who continue to threaten peace and stability in the region.
While investigations into the killing are ongoing, the incident underscores the fragile security situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the critical need for sustained counter-terrorism cooperation between the two neighbours.
