PESHAWAR: In a bid to regain lost ground in Mohmand Agency following the defection of some of its cadres led by Omar Khalid Khurasani, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has named Mansoor Mohmand as its commander for this tribal region.
The TTP’s news spokesman, Mohammad Khurasani, was quoted as saying in media reports that the central shura of the TTP had approved the name of Mansoor Mohmand to head their organization in Mohmand Agency.
Not much is known about Mansoor Mohmand, who would face problems in organizing the TTP in Mohmand Agency as most of its fighters have parted company with the TTP under the leadership of Abdul Wali, commonly known as Omar Khalid Khurasani. Also, the TTP lacks public support in Mohmand Agency and all the militants have fled to Afghanistan.
The decision by Omar Khalid Khurasani and his men to break away from the TTP and form a new group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, was a huge setback. It left the TTP with no chapter and fighters in Mohmand Agency and certain other tribal agencies. By naming Mansoor Mohmand as the head of the Mohmand Agency unit, the TTP is hoping it would find toehold in this tribal region.