Kabul – A senior commander of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baitullah Khan Mehsud, is reportedly being held in a prison operated by the group’s leadership in Afghanistan, according to open-source intelligence platform Mahaz.
Citing associates of the commander, Mahaz reported on Monday that Baitullah Khan Mehsud, a veteran figure within the TTP, has been part of the militant outfit since its inception under its founding chief, Baitullah Mehsud. He also served under successive leaders including Wali Rahman, Sajna, and Hakimullah Mehsud.
According to the report, Baitullah Khan was arrested by Pakistani security forces in 2012 and remained in detention for 11 years before being released in 2023. After his release, he reportedly moved to Afghanistan, where he became active in TTP operations under its current leadership.
However, in 2024, the TTP leadership allegedly detained him in one of their own prisons in Afghanistan. His close associates claim they have not received any updates on his condition, while unverified reports circulating among militant circles suggest he may have been killed.
The detention of a senior and long-serving commander points to growing internal rifts within the TTP, a reflection of the increasing power struggles within its leadership structure in Afghanistan. Associates of Baitullah Khan have also shared photographs allegedly taken at Habibullah Zazi Park in Kabul, which they say confirm his presence in Afghanistan prior to his disappearance.
His confirmed presence in Afghanistan, and subsequent detention by the TTP leadership there, further exposes the group’s entrenched operations across the border. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over the TTP’s sanctuaries in Afghanistan, warning that their continued presence remains a key factor fueling cross-border terrorism and destabilizing regional security.
