Pakistani Taliban Says Its Deputy Leader Was Killed in U.S. Airstrike
After the death of the commander Hakimullah Mehsud in a 2013 American drone attack, Mr. Sayed
claimed the leadership of the Pakistani Taliban, which consists of several groups.
American missiles struck a vehicle carrying the militant commander
and five of his security guards as they were entering Pakistani territory from the Afghan side, Pakistani intelligence officials said; all of the security guards were also killed in the strike.
13, 2018
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani Taliban have confirmed the death of their deputy commander in an American drone strike in Afghanistan last week.
Muhammad Khurasani, a Taliban spokesman, said in a statement on Monday
that Mr. Sayed had been killed in a Feb. 8 drone strike in Growek region of North Waziristan, another tribal area.
The man announced by the Taliban as successor to Mr. Sayed is Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, who also goes by Abu Mansoor Asim.
Mr. Sayed was considered close to the Haqqani network, the militant group
that has carried out deadly attacks in Afghanistan and has been a cause of diplomatic tensions between the United States and Pakistan.