LADDHA, (South Waziristan) The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has named a hitherto unknown militant, Usman Jan, as its new 'commander' in place of Qari Tahir Yaldashev, who has reportedly been killed in a drone attack in South Waziristan last month, according to credible sources.
Nevertheless, outlawed militant outfit Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has categorically denied the killing of Yaldashev in the drone attack.
Qari Tahir Yaldashev is alive and safe. Reports about his death in a drone attack are baseless, Qari Hussain, a spokesman for TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, told Dawn from an unspecified place on phone on Friday.
Officials, however, insisted that Yaldashev had died of injuries he had received in a drone attack at a house in Kani Garam area of South Waziristan on Aug 27.
They claimed that two missiles fired from the pilotless US plane had also killed four of Yaldashev's companions.
According to a report prepared by intelligence officials, Yaldashev had lost one leg and one arm in the attack and he was rushed to a private hospital in Zhob district of Balochistan where he died on Oct 1. It is yet not known as to where he was buried.
