Jamaatul Ahrar in fierce conflict with Afghan Taliban

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaatul Ahrar (TTP-JuA) has killed an Afghan Taliban commander in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar Province, where the banned group is believed to have its basis

Ubaid, who was killed two days ago, was the second Afghan Taliban commander killed by the TTP-JuA in Kunar’s Sarkano district in 10 days,

Two other sympathisers of the Afghan Taliban were also killed in Lal Pura area of Nangarhar province, bordering Pakistan. Lal Pura is thought to be the headquarters of Ahrar, which is blamed for dozens of deadliest attacks in Pakistan.

Last week the Pakistani armed group allegedly killed an Afghan Taliban local leader Zabita Jalal that caused tension between the two sides in the area.

Zabta Jalil was an Afghan Taliban leader from Kunar who had been involved in clashes with Ahrar militants for long time. He was wanted to the Americans and Afghan government and the government forces had carried out several operations against him but failed to capture him, a militant leader said.

The sources said the Ahrar fighters had also been involved in clashes with a famous Afghan Taliban commander Qari Ziaur Rehman in Kunar in recent weeks, but there was no casualty. However, the clashes caused serious tensions between the two sides which prompted mediation by locals as they were concerned about threats to their security.

TTP JA leader Abdu Wali alias Omar Khalid Khorasani’s relationship had always been tense with the Afghan Taliban in Nangarhar and Kunar and both had been involved in attacks on each other. Both lost fighters including the brother of a key commander Haji Abdul Rahim of the Afghan Taliban. He had also previously associated with Omar Khalid Khorasani, but later parted ways with him because of differences.

The JuA was launched in 2014 by several leaders of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan from Mohmand tribal region after internal differences surfaced over the leadership and policies. Omar Khalid Khorasani, who belongs to Mohmand agency, is leading the group.

UN Sanctions

The UN Security Council has sanctioned this splinter group of the Pakistan Taliban, subjecting it to assets freeze and an arms embargo.

The Security Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee on July 2017, added Jamaat-Ul-Ahrar (JuA) to the Islamic State and Al-Qaida Sanctions List.

The outfit is also known as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan Jamaat ul Ahrar and is located in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan as well as in Mohmand Agency, a district in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.

According to information on the UN website, Jamaat-Ul- Ahrar is the splinter group of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and is associated with the Islamic State.

Formed in August 2014 in Mohmand Agency district, Pakistan, the group operates from Nangarhar Province and Pakistan- Afghanistan border region. The outfit was banned in Pakistan in November last year.