Was it a case of mistaken identity, or a plan to compromise Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts would take time to ascertain, but two US drone strikes a few hours apart took out 14 “suspected” militants, among them pro-government militant commander Mullah Nazir. Nazir was the chief of Ahmadzai Wazir tribe’s militia and was in a peace agreement with the government since long.
The first of the two drone strikes targeted a compound of militants in Sara Kandaw area of Angoor Adda tehsil in South Waziristan Agency during the night between Wednesday and Thursday.
The assault killed 11 militants, including Mullah Nazir.The second drone strike came 12 hours later early on Thursday in Tappi area of North Waziristan Agency and killed three suspected foreign militants.
The Pentagon said on Thursday that if confirmed, the killing of the senior Taliban commander would be a “significant blow” to the terrorist outfit.
“Let me be very clear, I can’t confirm the reports. If the reports are true this would be a significant blow and would be a very helpful not just to the United States but also to our Pakistani partners and the Afghans,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters during an off camera news conference.
“This is someone who had great deal of blood on his hands. This would be a major development,” Little said in response to a question, adding that his death would “deal a serious blow” to the terrorist outfits in the region. Reports from Wana, headquarters of South Waziristan, said a compound of militants established at Sara Kandaw was targeted with four missiles. The compound belonged to pro-government Taliban commander Mullah Nazir. At least six people were killed on the spot, while the remaining five succumbed to injuries later. Reports said Nazir was among the dead but no official confirmation has been received. Nazir and the others killed in the drone strike were later buried in various graveyards of Wana. After the burial, Mullah Nazir’s associates announced his successor, but the government did not issue any statement on the development. Nazir had been under frequent attacks for the last two months. In the first such attack, his brother and several others were killed, while Nazir himself narrowly escaped a suicide bombing a few weeks ago.
Thursday’s second drone strike hit a vehicle in Ghundai village in Tappi area of North Waziristan, killing three suspected militants.
All three people in the vehicle were killed on the spot.
Meanwhile, an analyst said the killing of Nazir could provoke his fighters to join hands with domestic insurgents to intensify attacks on government and military targets across the country.
Asad Munir, a former ISI official, said that Nazir was representing the Wazir tribe in South Waziristan and his peace deal with the army was meant to neutralise the threat from the Mehsud tribe that harboured leaders of anti-government local Taliban groups.
“He was an enemy of the US, there is no doubt. His people, his followers were crossing the border and attacking NATO troops,” Munir said.
“But the Pakistan Army did not have the capacity to deal with Mehsud and Wazir [tribes] simultaneously. So they wanted to have peace with some people from the Wazir tribe so they could handle the Mehsuds. And the worst possibility is that the followers of Mullah Nazir will join hands with other elements, so that will be a very, very dangerous scenario for Pakistan.”
LUCK RUNS OUT FOR MULLAH NAZIR
