ISLAMABAD: A senior Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Nek Muhammad Rehbar was killed in Peshawar Monday afternoon by two gunmen riding a motorbike, confirmed a police official and two Taliban leaders.
The slain Taliban commander looked after military deployments in Nangarhar, and his killing was also mentioned by the governor of the Afghan province Ziaulhaq Amarkhil in a Twitter post.
Rehbar was scheduled to return to Afghanistan as top Taliban leaders had asked their key commanders to reach their respective areas in the war-battered country.
The attack on Rehbar was claimed by Daesh.
His brother Maulvi Noor Muhammad was also killed in Peshawar in a shooting incident about 15 years ago.
A police official in Peshawar who requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media said three other people accompanying 35-year-old Rehbar were also injured in the attack.
Rehbar’s body had been shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital and investigations were launched to determine the motive behind the incident, he added.
Afghan analysts say the slain Taliban commander had fought against Daesh militants in Nangarhar which could be the main reason behind his murder in Peshawar.
Zakir Jalali, a security analyst, said Taliban officials were easy to target when they live a normal life as refugees.
Jalali told Arab News Rehbar had resisted Daesh fighters in Khogyani district of Nangarhar and the group decided to kill him since he was a “soft target” inside Pakistan.
The slain commander was the third Taliban leader who was killed in Peshawar during the last four months.
Maulvi Abdul Hadi, the Taliban governor for Laghman, was assassinated in Peshawar in February.
In January, another Taliban leader Abdul Samad Mullah Toor was killed near the city.
Several senior Taliban commanders, including the group’s chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour, were also killed in American drone attacks in the past.
Unidentified gunmen shot dead Dr. Nasiruddin Haqqani, the brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban deputy chief, near Islamabad in November 2013.
A former senior Taliban figure, Abdullah alias Maulvi Abdul Raqeeb, who was known to be in favor of peace talks with the Hamid Karzai administration, was gunned down in Peshawar in February 2014.
Meanwhile, a former Taliban spokesman Abdul Hai Mutmayeen died of COVID-19 in Peshawar in January.
Mutmayeen served as Taliban spokesperson after Mullah Omar launched the movement in Kandahar in 1994.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Mutmayeen’s death and conveyed the insurgent group’s condolences to his family.
Third Afghan Taliban commander killed in Peshawar in last four months
https://arab.news/93gqq
Third Afghan Taliban commander killed in Peshawar in last four months
- Mullah Nek Muhammad Rehbar looked after the insurgent group’s military deployments in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province
- He fought against Daesh militants in Afghanistan who claimed responsibility for the attack
Pakistan to face Sri Lanka in T20 series on Wednesday as World Cup preparations intensify
- The series will help selectors finalize Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup starting next month
- Pakistan will play all World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, making the series key for adapting to local conditions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match Twenty20 international series starting on Wednesday in Dambulla, as the visitors step up preparations for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The series, with matches scheduled for Jan. 7, 9 and 11, is expected to play a key role in shaping Pakistan’s final 15-member squad for the World Cup, which begins on Feb. 7. Pakistan will play all of their World Cup fixtures in Sri Lanka, making the bilateral series an important chance to adjust to local conditions and finalize combinations.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said the team would use the series to assess players and build momentum ahead of the global tournament.
“The series provides a great opportunity for everyone to perform,” Salman said at a pre-series news conference.
“Playing here ahead of the World Cup is a significant advantage for us, and we will look to acclimatize to the conditions as quickly as possible,” he continued.
Salman will continue to lead a T20 side that enjoyed a strong 2025, winning two tri-series tournaments and bilateral series against Bangladesh, West Indies and South Africa. The captain said the management was keen to test emerging players alongside established names.
“We have good players in our squad who are future prospects,” he added. “We want to give them opportunities, and I am hopeful they will deliver strong performances in the series.”
Pakistan have had the edge in recent T20 meetings with Sri Lanka, winning three of their last five encounters, including a knockout match at the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup in Dubai and the final of a tri-series in Rawalpindi.
Wednesday’s opening match will begin at 7 p.m. local time in Dambulla.
