Pakistan Taliban confirm ex-spokesman’s death in Afghanistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — The Pakistani Taliban are confirming the killing over the weekend of their former spokesman in neighboring Afghanistan. The outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan — also known as TTP — announced the slaying on Sunday of Mohammad Khurasani, which is an alias. His real name is Khalid Balti. He was killed in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, the headquarters of the extremist Islamic State group’s regional affiliate. The TTP vowed on Twitter on Thursday to avenge the killing. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is an umbrella group and is a separate organization from the Afghan Taliban. Its fighters are believed to be hiding in Afghanistan.