Mangal Bagh, also known as Mangal Bagh Afridi, the leader of Lashkar-e-Islam, a militant organization operating in Khyber Agency, was killed in a roadside mine explosion in Achin district of the province along with three others, the governor of Nangarhar Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhil said on Thursday. 

This is the third time that the news of death of the militant commander surfaces on media. 

Afghan security agencies also confirmed the death of Mangal Bagh and said that the “reclusive militant commander” was killed while trying to plant a roadside bomb. 

Mangal established his group Lashkar-e-Islam in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2014. 

Mangal is accused of involvement in series of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. 

“When there is no a powerful and strong system, militias from regional countries will flock here,” said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban commander. 

“When I visited Mangal Bagh camp several years ago, I saw people who were smoking hashish while they were encouraging others for prayers,” said Shamim Shahid, a journalist in eastern Afghanistan. 

“There were speculations that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies were supporting Lashkar-e-Islam. Activities of this group were showing the same,” added Shahid. 

Security sources have said that Mangal had close ties with Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. He was initially seen in Achin district of Nangarhar in 2014 where he was involved in militant activities, security agencies said. 

According to Afghan security sources, Mangal was also cooperating with Daesh in the area.

In the past, the Afghan and Pakistani intelligence agencies two times reported about the death of Mangal Bagh.