Alleged drone attack in Afghanistan targets Pakistani militants

In Afghanistan’s Khost province, a suspected drone attack has targeted a hotel frequented by militants of Pakistan’s Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a private TV channel reported on Monday while quoting reliable sources.

Sources in Islamabad told the channel Monday afternoon that several key commanders of the faction had been killed in the attack that came at around 11am in the heart of Khost city.

Afghan officials confirmed an explosion at Zardan Hotel and said that they were investigating the cause.

There was no official confirmation about the nature of the explosion.

A different source claimed that the target of the attack was Hafiz Gul Bahadur himself.

Local Afghan sources say that the attack was carried out by a drone. A loud explosion was heard at around 11am and smoke plumes were seen rising over the city.

A press note issued by the Khost press office said that after the explosion, security forces arrived at the site and were investigating the nature of the incident.

The note said that the leadership of the provincial administration has issued necessary instructions to the officials of the health department for the treatment of the injured.

A local official said the hotel in question was located near the Spin Mosque in Khost city and the victims included Pakistani nationals from Waziristan as well as Khost citizens. At least three people had died, the Afghan ministry of interior official, Khalid Zardan, said.

Who is Hafiz Gul Bahadur

Hafiz Gul Bahadur, 61, is the leader of a Pakistani Taliban faction based in North Waziristan, known as Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group.

He was originally part of the TTP and served as deputy to Baitullah Mehsud, who was based in South Waziristan but later formed his own faction.

Gul Bahadur, a direct descendant of Mirzali Khan, is a member of the Madda Khel clan of the Uthmanzai Waziris.