DHAKA: The Pakistani Taliban voted on Saturday to promote their No 2 commander, Khan Said, also known as Sajna, to replace leader Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a strike by a US drone.

Militant commanders and security sources said, reports The Straits Times.

Said is believed to have masterminded an attack on a jail in north-west Pakistan that freed nearly 400 prisoners last year and an attack on a Pakistani air force base in the same year.

Mehsud was killed by a US drone in north-west Pakistan, near the Afghan border, on Friday.

BDST: 1722 HRS, NOV 02, 2013
RoR/JCK