Pakistan Taliban sacks spokesman

Islamabad, Nov 7: Pakistani Taliban sacked its spokesman, weeks after he declared allegiance to feared militant outfit Islamic State.

The TTP said it has appointed Muhammad Khurasani as its new spokesperson and formally sacked former spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid.

Khurasani's appointment was approved by the TTP Shura (council), which met at an undisclosed location, according to a statement by the TTP.

Shahid, with five other rebel commanders, last month declared allegiance to the Middle Eastern militant group Islamic State or IS, which has captured large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.

The details about the new spokesperson were not given but a senior militant commander said he is using his jihadi name.

"His original name is different and that might be revealed at an appropriate time," he said.

The Taliban has been beset by bitter internal rivalries over the past year and have suffered huge setbacks because of an ongoing military operations in North Waziristan.

PTI