Most-wanted Filipino militant killed in US drone attack in Pak

A Filipino militant and a bomb- making expert, most-wanted by the United States, was killed in an American drone strike in Pakistan's restive South Waziristan region on January 14.

The militant, identified as Abdul Basit Usman, was killed in a drone strike on the house of Yaqub Khan in Shaktoi village where more than 10 militants, including two foreigners, were killed on January 14, Dawn reported.

The United States authorities considered Usman a threat to the country and Philippines and had announced a reward of $ 1 million for his arrest.

Usman allegedly had links to the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf Group and Jamiah Islamiyah terrorist organizations operating in southern Philippines, the report said.

According to the US State Department, Usman is believed to have planned several bombings that has killed several people and was wanted in the US for his involvement in terrorist activities.

Usman had also been indicted in the Philippines for his role in multiple bombings since 2003, and the government of the Philippines had issued a warrant for his arrest as well.

The US has stepped up drone attacks in North Waziristan after a suicide bomber linked to the Pakistani Taliban killed seven Central Intelligence Agency operatives at a forward base in neighbouring Khost province of Afghanistan on December 30.

Militants recently released a video in which the bomber responsible for the Khost attack was shown with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who apparently had a narrow escape during a drone attack in North Waziristan on January 14.

Image: Abdul Basit Usman