Rebel commander among three dead in Pakistan blast
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Dec 21, 2012 (AFP) - A bomb explosion Friday killed at least three people including a local militant commander in a restive Pakistani tribal region bordering Afghanistan, security officials said.
The blast took place in a vegetable market in the town of Wana, in South Waziristan tribal district, which is considered a base for Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and other Islamist militants.
“According to our information, a bomb at the office of local Taliban commander Maulvi Abbas's brother in the vegetable market went off, killing Abbas and two others including his son,” a local security official told AFP.
Four people sustained injuries in the blast, which have not been claimed by any group or individual.
Another local security official also confirmed the attack and casualties.
Maulvi Abbas, who had close links with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) was a close confidant of senior Taliban commander Nek Mu-
Maulvi Abbas, who had close links with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) was a close confidant of senior Taliban commander Nek Muhammad, who was killed in a US drone strike in 2004
hammad, who was killed in a US drone strike in 2004.
Muhammad and Abbas had come under sharp criticism in the past for harbouring Uzbek, Tajik and other Central Asian militants.
Abbas and his fighters left South Waziristan after Maulvi Nazir became commander of militants in the region and launched a campaign against them for harbouring the “foreigner”.
Nazir opposes Uzbek fighters and has had awkward relations with Pakistan's umbrella Tehreeke-Taliban (TTP) faction, which is dominated by members of the rival Mehsud tribe.
However, Abbas returned to the region last year after reaching a deal with Nazir, who was wounded in a suicide attack in the main market of Wana last month.