Tension is increasing between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Recently, on 9 October 2025, a Pakistani airstrike took place in Kabul, in which Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Noor Wali Mehsud was targeted. Some reports say that he was killed, while others say that the rumors of his death were false. Who is Noor Wali Mehsud? Why does Pakistan want to kill him?
Birth and early life of Noor Wali Mehsud: From a common boy to a militant
Noor Wali Mehsud was born on 26 June 1978. Pakistan It happened in a small village in Tiarza area of South Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He belongs to the Mechikhel sub-clan of the Mehsud clan, which is part of the Pashtun tribe. In his childhood, he started studying in Madrasa Siddiquiya Uspas.
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In the 1990s, he continued studying in madrasas in many cities of Pakistan like Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Karachi. His studies were interrupted in 1996-97, when he went to Afghanistan. There he Afghan Taliban Fought against the Northern Alliance of Ahmed Shah Masood.
Took part in the battles near Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul. On the advice of his father Haji Gul Shah Khan, he returned to Pakistan and graduated in 1999. He received the degree of Mufti, i.e. Islamic religious scholar. From 1999 to 2001, he taught Islamic Theology at Madrasa Imdad-ul-Uloom in the Gorgorai area of South Waziristan.
High position in TTP: How did he become the leader?
In 2003, Noor Wali joined the Mehsud branch of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). Reason? The Pakistan Army was conducting operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which it considered a violation of Pashtunwali (Pashtun traditions). He called it ‘defensive jihad’ against American imperialism. In the war in North-West Pakistan that started with the Battle of Wana in 2004, he attacked the Pakistani Army.
Ambushed in Tayar Manja. He became Qazi (judge) under Baitullah Mehsud. Once Baitullah was even sentenced to three days’ imprisonment. After that he became the deputy of Baitullah. After the death of Baitullah, a TTP training camp was run in Gorgorai in 2009. At that time there was a reward of Rs 20 lakh on him.
Became the head of Karachi chapter of TTP in 2013. There the militants committed ransom, kidnapping, bank robbery and murders. By 2015, the network became weak due to Pakistani action. Then Khalid became Mehsud’s deputy and after Khalid’s death in a drone strike in 2018, Mehsud became the leader of Taliban.
In February 2018, he became the deputy of Maulana Fazlullah. When Fazlullah was killed in an American drone strike in June 2018, Noor Wali was elected the Ameer (leader) of TTP after a week’s debate. At that time TTP was weak – no area in Pakistan was under control. There was internal discord but the group became stronger under his leadership. Now he does not target civilians, only attacks security forces.
Main activities and books: Preacher of extremism
Apart from being a religious scholar, Noor Wali is also a commander. Fought the Afghan Civil War in the 1990s. Supported Afghan Taliban after 9/11. Took credit for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2007 in his book. Said that she had met America. He was the head of the Publication Department of TTP.
In 2017, he wrote a 690-page book ‘Inquilab-e-Mehsud: South Waziristan – from Firangi Raj to American Empire’. In this, the history, operation and funding of TTP was told. in 2021 afghanistan There was a rumor of death in drone strike, but TTP rejected it. America declared him a global terrorist on 10 September 2019. Was included in the UN terrorist list in July 2020.
Events of 2025: Why the target of Pakistan’s airstrikes?
After 2021, TTP intensified attacks on Pakistan from Afghanistan. Attacks on the border increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On October 9, 2025, TTP attacked Pakistani soldiers, in which 11 soldiers were killed. In response, Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad and Paktika on the same day.
The blasts took place near Abdul Haq Square in Kabul. Pakistan targeted Noor Wali. Sources told Amu TV that he was killed. But the Taliban said that he was safe and was not in Kabul. TTP released the note of his voice and said that he is alive.
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If he dies, there will be a temporary disruption in the TTP – tribal support, religious authority and unifying ability will be reduced. But history shows that such groups do not end easily. Earlier also Baitullah, Hakimullah and Fazlullah were killed, but TTP returned.
Danger remains, peace far away?
Noor Wali Mehsud is the face of TTP – religious, strategist and writer. Under his leadership the group became a big threat to Pakistan. Pakistan alleges that the Afghan Taliban provides shelter to it. His death has not been confirmed yet, but tension has increased. Afghanistan has warned Pakistan.
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