The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 17th November categorically rejected claims made by former US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad regarding the killing of an alleged ISIS Khorasan commander in Punjab.
On 16th November Khalilzad posted on social media platform X stating that a senior ISIS Khorasan commander Burhan also known as Zaid had been killed in Patak Akhtarabad city. The ministry however clarified that the incident occurred on 5th March in Habibabad Kasur district and was unrelated to terrorism.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting official fact checking account Burhan’s death resulted from a dacoity or personal enmity not a counter terrorism operation.
A first information report was registered on 6th March at the Saddar Pattoki police station confirming the criminal nature of the incident. Burhan had been residing with his father in law Shah Muhammad near a local fruit market in Habibabad at the time.
The ministry emphasised that there is no credible evidence linking Burhan to ISIS Khorasan or confirming him as a commander.
Security assessments indicate that ISIS/Islamic State Khorasan Province has no presence in Punjab. The MoIB stressed that Khalilzad’s post misleadingly portrayed a personal or criminal dispute as an anti terror operation creating a false impression of ISIS Khorasan activity in the province.
Authorities confirmed that the matter remains a purely criminal case with no connection to terrorism or organised Terrorist groups exposing Khalilzad’s claims as a baseless & reckless attack.
By twisting a personal dispute into a supposed ISIS Khorasan operation he deliberately misled the public & spread false narratives undermining credibility & trying to malign Pakistan with unfounded allegations.
