Taliban Under Scrutiny As US Kills Al-Qaida Leader in Kabul
SnopesDec 24, 2022
The Facts
According to Pakistani officials, a senior leader of the Pakistan Taliban, Abdul Wali - also known as Omar Khalid Khorasani - was killed on Sun. when a vehicle carrying members of the militant group was struck by a roadside bomb in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika, near the Pakistan border.
While the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Mon. blamed Pakistani intelligence agents, no one immediately claimed responsibility for the bomb which caused Wali's death, and that of his driver and two close aides.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
This assassination is a major blow to the Pakistani Taliban, who are a stakeholder in the region. However, it also has the potential to derail the fragile dialogue process and could lead to intensified militant violence in Pakistan. This is a concerning development that could jeopardize the hard-fought diplomatic gains during these early peace talks.
Pro-establishment narrative
This was a victory against radical jihadism and terrorist activities. These individuals have been on the US radar for several years. The Pakistani Taliban consists of various members of al-Qaeda's core leadership and the US is right to be worried that their aims could be expanded beyond the region.
