PESHAWAR: ‘Qaedat al-Jihad in the sub-continent’, a newly established branch of Al Qaeda formed to operate in the South Asian region, has claimed that its two key commanders were killed in a recent drone strike in the Pak-Afghan border area.

According to the group’s spokesman Usama Mehmood, key commanders Dr Sarbuland alias Abu Khalid and Major (retd) Adil were targeted in the drone attack.

A US drone killed both while they were travelling along with their families. The two slain commanders were also related by marriage, claimed a statement issued by the group.

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The statement further stated that Dr Sarbuland’s two sons, aged 13 and 15, were also killed in the strike.

“Dr Sarbuland was a competent surgeon, as well as the finest instructor of battlefield. He fought both against the Russians and the US,” said the group’s spokesman.

The statement further said that Major (retd) Adil was a part of the Pakistan army but left after the war against terror began following the September 11 attacks.

According to the group’s claims, both commanders have survived several ground assaults and the US forces attacked them with a drone after their failure in ground attacks.

The claims have not yet been confirmed by other sources.