Senior Pakistani militant replaces slain warlord

A senior Pakistani militant commander has been appointed to succeed warlord Mullah Nazir, who orchestrated attacks in Afghanistan until his death in a US drone strike, officials said Friday. Nazir, killed late Wednesday and buried Thursday, was the main militant commander in the tribal district of South Waziristan, where he plotted attacks on US and NATO troops and reportedly sheltered Al-Qaeda operatives. Two of his deputies were killed with him, but a close associate and militant commander who goes by the name Salahuddin Ayubi has been anointed his successor, Pakistani intelligence officials said. "Ayubi, whose real name is Bahawal Khan, was appointed as top commander of the group after Nazir's funeral," one of the officials told AFP. He said that Ayubi, who belonged to Nazir's Kaka Khel sub-division of the main Wazir tribe, had been very close to Nazir for more than 16 years. The Pentagon could not confirm Nazir's death but said it would be a "significant blow" and helpful to the United States and its Pakistani partners. Source: AFP