One Killed, Three Injured In Western Kabul Explosion

In their statement, the TTP said that the ISI "eliminates scholars and clerics to please their Western masters”.

Expressing sorrow, the TTP referred to the killing of Mohammad Omarjan Akhundzada as "extremely saddening news" and extended condolences to his family.

According to the Pakistan’s Balochistan State Police, Mohammad Omarjan Akhundzada possessed a Pakistani identity card.

Following the assassination of Omarjan Akhundzada, an advisor to Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, BBC Urdu, citing the Quetta city police in Pakistan, reported that he held a Pakistani identity card.

Quetta police confirmed that Akhundzada was a long-serving Imam at a local mosque and resided at his own house in the city, highlighting that non-citizens typically cannot own property in Pakistan.

The police authorities told BBC Urdu that investigations into the perpetrators and motives behind the murder of this cleric are ongoing.

A police official said that Akhundzada was shot and killed by unidentified armed individuals on Thursday night.

For 15 years, Akhundzada served as the imam of a mosque in Quetta's Kali area, according to police records.

Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement on the social media platform X, expressing condolences over Akhundzada's death, on Friday.

However, Taliban spokespersons and officials have not provided details on the exact circumstances or identities of those involved in Akhundzada's killing.

When BBC Urdu inquired about Akhundzada's connections to the Afghan Taliban, Abdul Hai Baluch, a spokesperson for Quetta police, claimed ignorance on the subject.

So far, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the assassination of this Taliban figure.

Who was Mohammad Omarjan?

Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), under Taliban control described Akhundzada as a member of the Taliban’s Supervisory Commission and a teacher at a jihadist school in Kandahar, although sources reported to Afghanistan International that he was a trusted advisor to the Taliban leader.

He had been a senior member of the Quetta Shura and was involved in establishing religious schools in Pakistan.

After the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they transformed the Kandahar Mechanical Institute into a jihadist school, placing Mullah Mohammad Omar Akhundzada in charge. This school is located next to the Mandigak Palace, reportedly used by the Taliban leader as his office.

Sources noted that Hibatullah Akhundzada typically started his meetings with recitations from the Quran by Akhundzada, underscoring his significant role within the group.

According to the ministry, these immigrants entered Afghanistan through the Turghundi and Spin Boldak borders.

The Taliban stated that these individuals were directed to seek assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Simultaneously, as the second phase of forced expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan begins, this Taliban ministry reported that thousands of migrants are being expelled from Iran and Pakistan to Afghanistan every day.

In a statement on Saturday, the court said that this individual had been punished in the presence of local Taliban officials in Shahjoy district.

Since taking power in Afghanistan, the Taliban has resumed physical punishments such as flogging, amputation, and execution, publicly punishing many citizens in various provinces.

Human rights defenders and the international community have repeatedly urged the Taliban to halt physical punishments of the accused. However, the group’s officials have stated that they will continue with punishments according to "Islamic Sharia law”.

Quetta police confirmed that Akhundzada was a long-serving Imam at a local mosque and resided at his own house in the city, highlighting that non-citizens typically cannot own property in Pakistan.

Authorities are still investigating the motives and identifying the perpetrators behind the cleric’s assassination, as per Quetta police.

A police official noted that Akhundzada was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Thursday night.

The incident occurred as Akhundzada was returning home from the mosque when several individuals on motorcycles opened fire and then fled the scene, leading to his death from a chest gunshot wound.

For 15 years, Akhundzada served as the imam of a mosque in Quetta's Kali area, according to police records.

Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement on the social media platform X, expressing condolences over Akhundzada's death, on Friday.

However, Taliban spokespersons and officials have not provided details on the exact circumstances or identities of those involved in Akhundzada's killing.

When BBC Urdu inquired about Akhundzada's connections to the Afghan Taliban, Abdul Hai Baluch, a spokesperson for Quetta police, claimed ignorance on the subject.

Afghanistan National Television, controlled by the Taliban, broadcast a statement condemning the assassination as a "major crime," but no group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for this act.

State television described Akhundzada as a member of the Taliban’s Supervisory Commission and a teacher at a jihadist school in Kandahar, although sources reported to Afghanistan International that he was a trusted advisor to the Taliban leader. He had been a senior member of the Quetta Shura and was involved in establishing religious schools in Pakistan.

After the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they transformed the Kandahar Mechanical Institute into a jihadist school, placing Mullah Mohammad Omar Akhundzada in charge. This school is located next to the Mandigak Palace, reportedly used by the Taliban leader as his office.

Sources noted that Hibatullah Akhundzada typically started his meetings with recitations from the Quran by Akhundzada, underscoring his significant role within the group.

According to Haalvsh, the prisoners were arrested in 2019 on charges related to drug trafficking and were later sentenced to death by a court.

The executed individuals have been identified by the organisation as Zaman Taheri, Salam Taheri, Gholam Qader Samani, and Ebrahim Norzehi. Notably, Zaman Taheri and Salam Taheri were brothers.

Sources referenced by Haalvsh indicated that the prisoners were moved from a general ward dealing with drug crimes to solitary confinement in Vakilabad Prison on Wednesday, with their executions carried out at dawn the following day.

Additional details regarding these individuals have not been disclosed.

As of now, Iranian officials have not commented on the executions.

Historically, the Islamic Republic has executed several Afghan prisoners for drug-related offences and other crimes.

Haalvsh also reported last Monday that another Afghan prisoner was executed at the same facility for drug-related offences.