A suicide bomber attacked a prominent militant commander in northwest Pakistan Thursday, wounding him and killing at least six people.
Officials say Maulvi Nazir was one of at least 12 people hurt in the Thursday's blast in Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal agency.
Nazir is the main militant commander in South Waziristan, with fighters who reportedly are more interested in attacking U.S.-led troops in neighboring Afghanistan than Pakistan's security forces.
The militant commander signed a peace accord with the Pakistani government in 2007 and is said to have a contentious relationship with the Pakistani Taliban, which has carried out attacks on Pakistani forces.
Nazir's faction is said to be allied with other al-Qaida-linked militant groups, including that of commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday's bombing.
Officials say the young attacker detonated his explosives as Nazir got out of his vehicle in Wana, causing a huge blast.
A few hours later, Pakistani security officials say a U.S. drone strike killed two suspected militants in the Sheen Warsak area near Wana on Thursday. The identities of those killed was not immediately known.
Officials say Maulvi Nazir was one of at least 12 people hurt in the Thursday's blast in Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal agency.
Nazir is the main militant commander in South Waziristan, with fighters who reportedly are more interested in attacking U.S.-led troops in neighboring Afghanistan than Pakistan's security forces.
The militant commander signed a peace accord with the Pakistani government in 2007 and is said to have a contentious relationship with the Pakistani Taliban, which has carried out attacks on Pakistani forces.
Nazir's faction is said to be allied with other al-Qaida-linked militant groups, including that of commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday's bombing.
Officials say the young attacker detonated his explosives as Nazir got out of his vehicle in Wana, causing a huge blast.
A few hours later, Pakistani security officials say a U.S. drone strike killed two suspected militants in the Sheen Warsak area near Wana on Thursday. The identities of those killed was not immediately known.
