Islamic State chief for Afghanistan, Pakistan said killed by U.S. drone

By Jibran Ahmad | PESHAWAR, Pakistan/KABUL

PESHAWAR, Pakistan/KABUL The leader of Islamic State's branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been killed in a U.S. drone strike in an eastern Afghan province, the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan said on Friday.


"I can confirm that ISIS Khurasan leader Hafiz Saeed Khan along with his senior commanders and fighters died in a U.S. drone strike on July 26 in Kot district of Afghanistan's Nangharhar province," Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal told Reuters.


A spokesman for the U.S. military coalition in Kabul said he could not confirm the reports but officials were investigating.


Khan, a former member of the Pakistani branch of the Taliban who swore allegiance to Middle East-based Islamic State, had earlier reported killed last year but the death was never confirmed.


(Writing by Kay Johnson; editing by Ralph Boulton)

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