Pakistani official claims Taliban chief is dead

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday confirmed the death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud.

“I have credible information that he's dead but I don't have any confirmation,” Malik told media persons here on Wednesday.

Malik also said Qari Hussain, the man considered to be the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s chief trainer for suicide bombers, may also have been killed.

There are conflicting reports about death of Hakimullah and other leader of TTP.

A day earlier on Tuesday some Taliban sources had confirmed the death of the Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, while Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq rejected the claims of fellow Taliban, saying that these reports are baseless.

The media outlets have reported some Taliban and locals official sources in the volatile tribal regions of Waziristan and Orakzai tribal regions, claiming that the leader of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) died a week ago due to neck injury near Multan when he was being taken for treatment to Karachi from South Waziristan. US and some.

Recently US and Pakistani officials had been quoted by media saying Hakimullah had died due to injuries sustained in the pre-dawn drone strike at Shaktoi area of South Waziristan on January 14. Taliban sources also said that Mehsud was in a state of coma after being injured in the drone strike.

On the other hand TTP spokesman Azam Tariq had rejected the reports of Mehsud’s killing, saying "Hakimullah Mehsud is alive and heads the TTP."

Some Taliban sources also said that Maulvi Noor Jamal, a native of Orakzai agency, is now acting in his place.

Noor Jamal, popularly known as Maulvi Toofan is said to be a close associate of Hakimullah, was appointed as Taliban chief of the Kurram tribal region. After the Pakistan’s military launched an offensive in South Waziristan, he was given an additional charge of the Orakzai tribal region.

Last Sunday, Pakistan state television reported that Mehsud was killed in a US drone attack two weeks ago, a claim which was quickly denied by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The report said that Hakimullah Mehsud, a target of CIA-directed drone strikes over the past month, has already been buried.

Taliban sources based in the Aurakzai tribal region told a private TV channel that 28-year-old Mehsud was severely injured in the attack in Shaktoi area of North Waziristan Agency Jan 14 and died recently near Multan city in Punjab province while being taken to Karachi for treatment.

His body was taken back to the tribal belt, the sources said.

However, there were also reports that Mehsud had died almost two weeks ago and was buried in his father-in-law's village in Aurakzai Agency.

It is to be noted that the US stepped up drone attacks targeting Mehsud after he was shown in a video with a Jordanian suicide bomber who killed seven CIA operatives in an attack on a forward base in Khost province of Afghanistan.

Despite claims and counter claims, there are not confirmed reports about death of Hakimullah Mehsud.

- Asian Tribune -