PESHAWAR: Taliban leader Mullah Nazir was injured in a suicide attack in the South Waziristan tribal region’s Wana area on Thursday, his spokesman Amir Nawaz told Dawn.com.
Nazir was injured as a suicide bomber carrying explosives in a hand-cart struck a vehicle carrying members his group in Wana’s Rustam Bazaar.
Nazir, who was not in the vehicle at the time but was in the area, was slightly injured in his right leg, his spokesman said.
Moreover, Assistant Political Agent Shahid Ali Khan told Dawn.com that six people were killed and nine others were injured in the blast that struck the vehicle.
Three vehicles and eight shops were also destroyed in the attack that appeared to have been an attempt of Nazir’s life.
The bomber was between 10 to 15 years of age, local administration officials told Dawn.com.
Nazir is a pro-government and anti-US Taliban commander who has repeatedly been targeted by US drones.
While at odds with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Nazir is accused of harbouring militants who stage attacks across the border on coalition troops in Afghanistan.
Nazir is also said to have been instrumental in defeating Uzbek fighters in the Ahmedzai Wazir area of South Waziristan.
