KABUL: Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency said on Tuesday a top regional leader of the Al-Qaeda had been killed in a joint raid led by United States and Afghan troops in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province last month.
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said Asim Omar, a leader of the network for the Indian subcontinent, was killed along with other members of Al-Qaeda in the Musa Qala district of Helmand, a main bastion of Taliban insurgents.
“NDS can now confirm the death of Asim Omar, leader of Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS), in a joint US-Afghan led operation,” the spy agency said in a statement.
It described Omar as a Pakistani national, and said six others had been killed in the same operation, including Raihan, Omar’s courier to Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al-Qaeda.
In September 2014, Al-Zawahiri announced the creation of AQIS in a video message and said Asim Umar would be its top commander.
The US attacked Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks in which Al-Qaeda hijackers slammed airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon, killing almost 3,000 people. The US-led coalition ousted the Taliban from power for harboring Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, and drove Al-Qaeda’s leaders, including Osama bin Laden, to Pakistan.
Al Qaeda has been decimated over the years. But US officials estimate there are still small numbers of Al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, some with deep ties to the Taliban insurgency. More are across the border in Pakistan.
Many US officials doubt the Taliban could be relied upon to prevent Al-Qaeda from again plotting attacks against the United States from Afghan soil. That was one of the main US demands during peace negotiations with the Taliban that US President Trump declared “dead” last month.
Afghan spy agency says top Al-Qaeda leader killed in joint US raid
Afghan spy agency says top Al-Qaeda leader killed in joint US raid
- Asim Omar led Al-Qaeda’s network in the Indian subcontinent
- Spy agency described Omar as a Pakistani national, said six others killed in same operation
PCB sets Feb. 11 as date for player auction for Pakistan Super League 11th edition
- The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and a maximum of 20
- The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced that the player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held on Feb. 11, setting the stage for franchises to begin assembling squads for the country’s premier Twenty20 tournament.
The development came after a workshop regarding PSL player auction at the Qaddafi Stadium, which was presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and PSL CEO Salman Naseer.
The workshop was attended by PSL officials, all eight franchise representatives, members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, PCB officials and other capped players.
“The HBL PSL management shared a detailed presentation on the mechanics of the retention and the auction process and consulted with all the participants,” the PCB said.
“It was agreed that the HBL PSL player auction will take place on Wednesday, 11 February.”
The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and maximum of 20 players per franchise. The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size, according to the PCB.
It would be mandatory for the franchises to play minimum of three and maximum of four foreign players in the playing XI. The teams are also required to have minimum of two uncapped Under 23 players in the squad and one in the playing XI.
Players either retained or picked in the auction will be engaged for two-year contracts with their respective franchise teams, the board said, adding that franchise teams will be able to retain a maximum of seven players for the 12th edition of the tournament.
“I’m delighted that a consultative and productive session was held between the franchises, players and management today resulting in informed and strategic decisions which will pave the way for bright future for the HBL PSL,” Naqvi said.
“The Player Auction model is a landmark step for the HBL PSL, offering players better financial opportunities through an increased salary purse and a transparent acquisition process, while making the league more competitive and attractive.”
PSL CEO Naseer said the player auction system modernizes player recruitment by promoting fairness, transparency, and market-driven value, strengthening the PSL’s appeal for both players and franchises.
“Today’s workshop saw all views being taken into consideration and this rich feedback will be reflected in our execution of a successful player auction scheduled next month,” he said.
PSL has become a key pillar of the country’s cricket economy, providing financial stability to the PCB and serving as a talent pipeline for the national team. The 11th edition of the league is set to begin from Mar. 26 while the final is expected to be played on May 3, as per the PCB’s schedule.
