Taliban confirm death of Sajna

PESHAWAR: Deputy leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or movement of the Pakistani Taliban, Khalid Mehsud aka Khan Said Sajna was killed along with six other militants in drone strike in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region. Both Pakistani security officials as well as the Taliban spokesman confirmed his death. "We confirm thekilling of our deputy leader, Khalid Mehsud in US drone strike in Gorveek area of North Waziristan. Besides the deputy head of Pakistani Taliban, he was also central leader of Taliban in South Waziristan tribal region," said Taliban spokesman Mohammad Khurasani.

"The slain militant commander had activity participated in the fight against the Pakistani security forces and like his predecessors finally died in US drone strike," said the TTP spokesman. "We congratulate our mujahideen on martyrdom (killing) of Khalid Mehsud," he said.

The Taliban spokesman said that after consultations with the shura (council) members, TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah Khurasani named another senior militant commander of South Waziristan, Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud as deputy head of TTP and leader of South Waziristan militants.

A Pakistani security official in North Waziristan on condition of anonymity stated that Sajna was targeted at his house-cum-compound in Laman area of Khar Tangi in Birmal subdivision Afghanistan's Paktika province.

As per his account, the drone fired two missiles and struck a compound where Sajna was staying along with a group of fighters. He said Sajna and his slain militants were laid to rest at 5pm the same day in Afghanistan's Naraai area.

Commander Sajna was considered very close to the former Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud and particularly his deputy, Maulana Waliur Rahman Mehsud. After the killing of Baitullah Mehsud in a drone strike in 2009 in South Waziristan's Zangara area, Hakimullah Mehsud managed to become leader of the Pakistani Taliban, using his influence and other militant groups.

It had hurt Maulana Waliur Rahman as Baitullah had repeatedly nominated him as his deputy. Later, Waliur Rahman was killed in a drone strike in North Waziristan and thus Sajna became deputy to Hakimullah Mehsud.

There was another militant commander, Sheharyar Mehsud. He was close to Hakimullah Mehsud. And when Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in drone strike in Miranshah, North Waziristan, Sajna then said he would now be chosen as head of the Mehsud militants.

And then started internal fighting within the Mehsud militants. One group was led by Sajna group and the other was headed by Sheharyar Mehsud. Both the groups suffered heavy losses as they killed each other's fighters and supporters.

They chased each other in the tribal areas as well as in the settled areas of the country and killed people from rival side. Taliban sources said that like his leader, Waliur Rahman, Sajna was stated to be in the list of "good Taliban" in Pakistan as they were not in favour of terrorist activities in the country and attacking Pakistani security forces.

He reportedly developed differences with the Pakistani authorities last year that prompted Sajna and his men to shift across the border in Afghanistan and launch attacks on Pakistani forces in SWA and NWA. The drone strikes has caused huge losses to the Pakistani Taliban and killed a number of their senior members.

Before Sajna, his spokesman Azam Tariq (his real name was Raees Khan and was a schoolteacher in South Waziristan before becoming a militant) was killed, along with his son and seven other Mehsud militants, in drone strike in September 2016 in Afghanistan's Paktika province.

Those who knew Sajna said he never attended a madrassa and was studying in a college when militant activities were on the rise in his native South Waziristan. "Sajna was not a religious leader. Before joining the Mehsud militants, he was studying in a college and had spent some time with Tableeghi Jamaat," one of his old friends said.

Pleading anonymity, he said Sajna was born in Dwa Toi village, located between Makeen and Sara Rogha in South Waziristan's Ladha subdivision. Like Baitullah Mehsud, Sajna belonged to the Shabi Khel clan of Mehsud tribe. His father Malik Mohammad, is tribal elder and stated to be an active member of his tribe.

"I haven't seen such a clean person like him. He would clearly state that his mission is fighting against the foreign occupying forces in Afghanistan," said a Mehsud religious leader and claimed he knew Sajna and was aware of his activities.

Senator Saleh Shah, a prominent religious leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Faz from SWA, said Sajna had never been involved in any terrorist activity in Pakistan. "He didn't even kill a bird in Pakistan. He was one of the few people who never took funds from any other country to fight against the Pakistani state," claimed Senator Saleh Shah.

The Taliban spokesman said they had appointed another senior militant commander, Mufti Noor Wali to replace Sajna. According to sources close to the TTP, Mufti Wali got his religious education from a madrassa in Faislabad and is a diehard militant and recently authored an Urdu book "Mehsud Revolution" with his alias Abu Asim.

He belongs to the Machi Khel sub-tribe of Manzai Mehsud from Gorgara village. According to sources, Mufti Wali remained close to Baitullah Mehsud. "The Mehsud militants particularly his leader Sajna had specifically sent Mufti Wali to Karachi with a special target to eliminate their rival group of Hakimullah Mehsud faction which he did successfully," said one Mehsud tribesman.

Pleading anonymity, he said Mufti Wali "is well versed" in religious, political, military affairs. "He is known for extreme views among the TTP circles. He has the support of Commander Asmatullah and Mohammad Hussain aka Ghat Haji.

According to the Mehsud tribal sources, Mufti Wali is a shrewd and calculated person but used to take pleasure in inflicting torture on his opponents. "He has got a brutal reputation and common people are afraid of him but correct choice in appointing him as TTP ameer for Mehsud region," opined the Mehsud elder.