It was the first drone strike from the Pakistani side inside Afghanistan since the Taliban captured power in August. The target was the deputy leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Maulvi Faqir Mohammad who was released from an Afghanistan prison after the Taliban captured Kabul.

According to a report by Reuters, the missile fired by a drone failed to explode after hitting the targeted house. Interestingly, a Taliban official had warned the TTP leader Faqir Mohammad about the imminent attack.

“It was 3:30 in the morning on Friday when a drone suddenly appeared in the sky. We got worried and advised Maulvi Faqir to go to a safe place, first he refused but then he agreed to go to a safe place, ” the Taliban official told Reuters  on condition of anonymity.

The report says  that within a few minutes the missile struck but failed to explode. Maulvi Faqir and his bodyguards were just 3-4 meters away but “luckily the missile did not explode and he and another person remained safe,” said the Taliban official.

Hundreds of TTP militants including Maulvi Faqir Mohammad along with other key commanders wanted by Pakistan, were freed in various prison breaks in Afghanistan especially from Bagram Prison & Pul-e-Charkhi Prison by the Taliban on August 15.

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