LADHA, Dec 21: Four militants, a key Taliban ‘commander’ among them, were killed and six others injured in a blast in Rustam bazaar of South Waziristan on Friday.

Maulvi Abbas, the Taliban commander, his son and two guards were killed when an IED (improvised explosive device) said to have been planted in his office by his rivals, went off. Six people were injured and were taken to agency headquarters’ hospital in Wana and a private clinic.

Dr Akbar Khan told Dawn at the hospital that one of the injured had been referred DHQ hospital in Dera Ismail Khan in serious condition.

Maulvi Abbas was one of four Taliban commanders who supported Uzbek and other foreign militants when Maulvi Nazir group and local Ahmedzai Wazir tribe launched an operation in 2007 and asked foreign militants to leave South Waziristan, blaming them for creating law and order problems in the region.

The other three commanders Maulvi Noorul Islam, Javed Wazir and Omar Wazir, took refuge in areas controlled by Hakeemullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman in North Waziristan after operation Rahe Nijat was launched by security forces. Omar Wazir was later killed in a drone attack in Machikhel area of North Waziristan.

However, Abbas, Noorul Islam and Javed Wazir moved back to Wana after striking a secret deal with Maulvi Nazir group and Ahmedzai elders about a year ago.

PAKISTANI DRONE CRASHES: A Pakistan-made drone crashed on Thursday night in South Waziristan. The rubble of the pilotless aircraft was found in the Azam Warsak area. The drone reportedly lost contact with the terminal at about 9pm.

Security forces cordoned off the area and started a search for the wreckage.