Mullah Nazir, regarded as an influential Taliban commander from the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe, had considerable sway in Wana and surrounding areas. His group was known for operations against Uzbek and other foreign militants
DNA News Report
PESHAWAR: A former aide to the late Taliban commander Mullah Nazir’s group was killed and another person injured in a targeted attack by unidentified gunmen in the Doag area of Wana tehsil, Lower South Waziristan, police and rescue officials confirmed on Sunday.
According to Wana Circle DSP Asghar Ali Shah, Muhammad Khalid — once associated with Mullah Nazir’s group — was travelling with another man from Rustam Bazaar Wana to his home in Doag on Saturday evening when armed assailants opened fire near a cemetery. Both sustained bullet wounds.
Rescue officials reported that Khalid was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to Dera Ismail Khan for treatment. The second victim was admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Wana, where he remains under medical care.
Police have registered an initial report and launched an investigation. “Different aspects of the attack are being examined, and efforts are under way to identify and arrest those involved,” DSP Shah said. The motive remains unclear.
Mullah Nazir, regarded as an influential Taliban commander from the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe, had considerable sway in Wana and surrounding areas. His group was known for operations against Uzbek and other foreign militants. Nazir had reached a peace agreement with the government in 2007 and opposed attacks against state forces in his areas of influence. He survived a suicide attack in November 2012 but was later killed in a US drone strike in January 2013.
Following Nazir’s death, Bahawal Khan was reported to have taken over leadership of the group. Khalid’s past association with Nazir’s network has raised questions, though police have not confirmed whether it was linked to Saturday’s attack.
The incident comes amid rising insecurity in Lower South Waziristan. Over the past 18 months, residents have faced a surge in terrorist activity attributed to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the TTP Gul Bahadur faction. Targeted killings, kidnappings, extortion, and attacks on civilians and security forces have become increasingly frequent.
Just last week, a commission agent was killed and a woman injured in a shooting inside a Benazir Income Support Programme centre in Azam Warsak Bazaar. Earlier this month, eight militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in the same region.
Local residents have voiced alarm over the deteriorating law and order situation, urging authorities to take effective measures to protect lives and property. The killing of Khalid has once again highlighted the fragile security environment in South Waziristan, where tensions remain high.
