Afghanistan: Al-Qaeda Leader Wanted by Pakistan Assassinated
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Saadullah Yousafzai | Peshawar
According to sources from Pakistan's security services, a wanted terrorist leader identified as Ali Masood Faridi alias Commander Moaaz has been assassinated in Afghanistan last week. Talking to us on a condition of anonymity, the source disclosed that Faridi was the mastermind of the 2015 suicide attack on an Imambargah located in Shikarpur's Lakhi Dar area. The explosion occurred just after Friday prayers, killing at least 60 people and 60 others were injured.
The source further stated that Faridi also masterminded the failed twin suicide bombings in Khanpur on Eid ul Adha. According to the source, Faridi fled Gulistan e Johar Karachi in the aftermath of the killing of Yemeni origin Al-Qaeda commander Abdul Moeedul Islam in November 2011. After fleeing Karachi, Faridi who's entire family was affiliated with Al-Qaeda established a terrorist camp in the remote mountains of Wadh district of Balochistan with the help of TTP splinter group Jindullah as well as with ISIS-KP linked Haji Baloch Group, Haji Baloch is reportedly the brother of the Al-Qaeda leader Ramzi Yousuf.
Furthermore, according to the sources Faridi established a terrorist training camp in Wadh Balochistan where suicide bombers like the ones used in Shikarpur were trained and provided with suicide jackets and that is from where he launched a number of deadly attacks in the country. His camp was destroyed in an Intelligence borne operation which also resulted in the killing of his close associate identified as Saqib in Hub Balochistan.
Faridi managed to escape the attack and left for Afghanistan's lawless regions with Pakistan's Intelligence agencies high on his heels. We couldn't find many details about his activities in Afghanistan, except that he continued to aid the terrorist activities of groups which were planning future attacks. The source revealed that Faridi was ambushed and assassinated by unidentified gunmen in Afghanistan last week, he abstained from commenting whether or not it was the work of Pakistan's Intelligence agencies.
