A senior commander linked to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction was reportedly killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan’s Khost province on Thursday. Social media reports identified the commander as Abdul Wali Dawar.
However, his death has not been independently confirmed by Pakistani or Afghan authorities. The report should, therefore, be treated as unverified for now.
The reported killing comes as Pakistan carried out fresh air and drone strikes at several locations in Afghanistan. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the military targeted 10 locations linked to the launch or storage of drones.
What Happened in Khost?
According to local reports, Pakistani strikes hit parts of Gurbuz, Ismail Khel and Mandozai in Khost. The strikes reportedly took place at around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Reports circulating online also claimed that locations linked to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur network were targeted. These reportedly included Gulano Camp and other sites in the area.
Several social media accounts later identified Abdul Wali Dawar as a senior commander of the Gul Bahadur faction. They claimed that he was among those killed in the strikes.
Some posts also alleged that Dawar had previously been associated with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. They further linked him to attacks against Pakistani security personnel.
However, these additional claims have not been independently verified.
At this stage, there is no reliable official confirmation that Abdul Wali Dawar was killed in the Khost strikes. His reported death remains an allegation rather than a confirmed fact.
Pakistan Confirms Airstrikes
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that Pakistan carried out air and drone strikes at 10 locations in Afghanistan.
According to Tarar, Pakistan took the action as part of its right to self-defence. He said drones launched from Afghan territory had entered Pakistan.
Tarar also said Pakistani air-defence systems detected and tracked the drones. The systems then intercepted them before they reached their alleged targets.
He said the Pakistani strikes focused on military targets linked to the reported drone attacks. However, the claims about the origin and intended targets of the drones have not been independently verified.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions
The latest strikes come amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The two sides have faced several security-related disputes in recent days.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups operating from Afghanistan of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. Afghan Taliban authorities have rejected such allegations and have denied allowing Afghan territory to be used for attacks against other countries.
For now, the reported death of Abdul Wali Dawar remains unconfirmed. Further statements from Pakistani security authorities or Afghan Taliban officials may provide more information about the Khost operation and the reported casualty.
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