LADDAH, June 2: A militant ‘commander’ and his associate were killed in a US drone attack near Wana in South Waziristan on Saturday.

According to sources, ‘commander’ Romanullah was a close aide to pro-government Taliban ‘commander’ Maulvi Nazir.

Romanullah and his associate were going to a border area in a motorbike when the drone fired two missiles near Dogg Kali, some 6km south of Wana.

Local Taliban confirmed the killing of Romanullah in the attack. The name of his slain associate could not be ascertained.

Militants have reportedly set up a camp near Dogg Kali and Romanullah was in charge of it.

AFP adds: It was the sixth drone strike in 11 days.

According to an AFP tally, 45 US missile strikes were reported in Pakistan’s tribal belt in 2009, the year US President Barack Obama took office, 101 in 2010 and 64 in 2011.

The New America Foundation think-tank in Washington says drone strikes have killed between 1,715 and 2,680 people in Pakistan over the past eight years.