The militant group’s spokesperson Dr Aziz Yusafzai confirmed that on Wednesday evening, three top commanders of his group were killed, including Hizbul Ahrar’s militant wing commander Jehad Yar Mehsood. He lead the attacks, first as part of Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA), another splinter group of TTP, and then as part of Hizbul Ahrar after parting ways with the JuA due to differences with its leader Umar Khalid Khorasani. But he later joined Hizbul Ahrar after developing differences Khorasani. Although the spokesperson for Hizbul Ahrar did not confirm of rifts with JuA, but according to sources, the militant commanders killed Wednesday had clashed with the local Afghan tribal militia that had JuA’s backing. A large number of Hizbul Ahrar militants have surrendered to the Pakistan Army in the past, including JuA spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan.

Source: The Express Tribune February 22, 2018 12:25 UTC