Baitullah Mehsud’s dead, confirms Pak Taliban
Friday, August 07, 2009, 11:29 IST
Zeenews Bureau
Islamabad: In a major development, Tehrik-e-Taliban on Friday confirmed the death of its leader Baitullah Mehsud and his second wife in an August 5 drone strike by US forces in south Wajiristan region of Pakistan.
According to reports, Tehrik-e-Taliban has also revealed that Mehsud’s funeral was held in Narkosa village yesterday.
Following the death of its leader, the Tehrik-e-Taliban's advisory council Shura is now scheduled to meet later today to elect Mehsud’s new successor who will carry forward the militant organisation’s anti-US agenda.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban is expected to announce Mehsud's death after Friday prayers together with the announcement of his successor. Among those being considered are his spokesman Hakimullah, Azmatullah and Wali Ur Rehman.
Earlier, indications also came from Pakistan government sources about Mehsud’s death with Interior Minister Rehman Malik saying, “The chief of Pakistan-Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, might have been killed along with his wife and bodyguards in a drone attack two days ago.”
"We suspect he (Mehsud) was killed in the missile strike. We have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it," Malik was quoted as saying by Geo TV.
A US official had also said there was "reason to believe reports of his death may be true, but it cannot be confirmed".
Pakistani intelligence services and security official are also trying to discover the identity of another victim, who died along with Mehsud's wife, one of his brothers and seven of his bodyguards in the US drone airstrike.
Pakistani officials on Wednesday had said Mehsud's wife had been killed in a missile attack from a US drone in the northwestern South Waziristan tribal region.
On Sunday, Pakistan had offered a $615,000-reward for information leading to the capture, dead or alive, of Mehsud, who is blamed for the deaths of hundreds of people in terror attacks over two years.
Taliban chief Mehsud may be dead: Rehman Malik
Friday, August 07, 2009, 11:29 IST
Zeenews Bureau
Islamabad: In a major development, Tehrik-e-Taliban on Friday confirmed the death of its leader Baitullah Mehsud and his second wife in an August 5 drone strike by US forces in south Wajiristan region of Pakistan.
According to reports, Tehrik-e-Taliban has also revealed that Mehsud’s funeral was held in Narkosa village yesterday.
Following the death of its leader, the Tehrik-e-Taliban's advisory council Shura is now scheduled to meet later today to elect Mehsud’s new successor who will carry forward the militant organisation’s anti-US agenda.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban is expected to announce Mehsud's death after Friday prayers together with the announcement of his successor. Among those being considered are his spokesman Hakimullah, Azmatullah and Wali Ur Rehman.
Earlier, indications also came from Pakistan government sources about Mehsud’s death with Interior Minister Rehman Malik saying, “The chief of Pakistan-Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, might have been killed along with his wife and bodyguards in a drone attack two days ago.”
"We suspect he (Mehsud) was killed in the missile strike. We have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it," Malik was quoted as saying by Geo TV.
A US official had also said there was "reason to believe reports of his death may be true, but it cannot be confirmed".
Pakistani intelligence services and security official are also trying to discover the identity of another victim, who died along with Mehsud's wife, one of his brothers and seven of his bodyguards in the US drone airstrike.
Pakistani officials on Wednesday had said Mehsud's wife had been killed in a missile attack from a US drone in the northwestern South Waziristan tribal region.
On Sunday, Pakistan had offered a $615,000-reward for information leading to the capture, dead or alive, of Mehsud, who is blamed for the deaths of hundreds of people in terror attacks over two years.
Taliban chief Mehsud may be dead: Rehman Malik