A top leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) having links with the Al Qaeda terrorist network was killed in a US airstrike in southeastern Paktika province of Afghanistan.

AVA- “A U.S. airstrike killed a Tehrik-e Taliban (TTP) deputy commander and Al Qaeda facilitator named Rehan in Bermal district, Paktika province, Feb. 22. Rehan is the second significant TTP deputy commander killed in Paktika this year. Sanja Meshoud was killed by a U.S. airstrike on Jan. 27 in Bermal, Paktika,” according to a statement by the coalition forces.

The statement further added that “As TTP deputy commanders, Rehan and Meshoud yielded influence within Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda provides funding to the TTP. The TTP, in turn, facilitate Al Qaeda travel and operations in the region. The removal of Rehan and Meshoud degrades Al Qaeda’s ability to fund and direct TTP and other violent extremists throughout Paktika and the surrounding areas.”

According to the statement, U.S. and Afghan air strikes continue to demonstrate the collective will of the international community to fight terrorism in Afghanistan.

The anti-government armed militant and terrorist groups have not commented regarding the report so far.

This comes as deputy TTP leader Khan Syed Sajna was killed in a similar airstrike in Southeast of Afghanistan late last month.