Khalid Balti appointed new TTP Spokesman, reports DAWN

Zahir Shah Sherazi

The leader of Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) Shura Mullah Fazlullah announced on Friday a new spokesman for the organisation.

Bespectacled Khalid Balti, alias Muhammad Khurassani, who is a Taliban commander from Gilgit Baltistan is the new spokesperson.

Khurassani, who is in his early 30s, received his education from madrassas in Karachi. He is considered a learned cleric and was a teacher at Jamiat-ul-Rasheed in Karachi. Having a vast experience in media and publication, he was also part of Umer Media team of the TTP. In addition, Khurassani is associated with some other madrassas in Karachi for educational and teaching purposes.

The photograph above shows Khurassani with former TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan and deceased TTP emir Hakeemullah Mehsud.

Khurassani previously mentioned in a statement that he was appointed the TTP spokesman after Shahidullah Shahid was sacked.

Shahid had announced his loyalty to the Islamic State militant group, formerly known as Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham (ISIS). He further added that he would support the Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) militant group in their fight against the security forces that launched Operation Khyber-1 in Bara Tehsil.

Originally published at DAWN