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| Hakeemullah Mehsud, left. AFP photo. | | |
Pakistani intelligence officials believe that Hakeemullah Mehsud, the
leader of the movement of the
Taliban in Pakistan and a close ally of
al Qaeda, has been killed in the latest drone strike in
North
Waziristan. The report has not been confirmed by US officials.
Radio intercepts of discussions between
Taliban fighters indicate that Hakeemullah was killed in
the Jan. 12 airstrike
that took place in the village of Dogga on the outskirts of Miramsham,
the main town in North
Waziristan. Six "militants," including several
"foreigners," a term used to describe members of al Qaeda and allied
terror groups, were reported killed in the strike.
"Some militants confirmed Mehsud was dead, and one criticized others for talking about the issue over the radio,"
according to The Associated Press.
Two US intelligence officials involved in the program that targets al
Qaeda and allied terror groups in Pakistan's tribal areas said they
were aware of the reports and are investigating.
Asimullah Mehsud, a spokesman for the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, has denied the reports of Hakeemullah's death,
The Associated Press reported.
Pakistani officials have claimed that Hakeemullah has been killed
numerous times in the past several years. The most embarrassing claim
took place in early 2010, when Pakistani officials, including the
Interior Minister, claimed he was killed in a drone strike [for a
timeline on the reporting of his 'death,' see
LWJ report,
Hakeemullah Mehsud -- not dead yet]. A US military spokesman even said they believed Hakeemullah
was either dead or incapacitated.
Many Taliban leaders denied he was killed. Hakeemullah granted several
phone interviews to deny the reports of his death, but the Pakistani
government and the media ignored the information.
The Long War Journal
reported several times during the winter and spring of 2010 that the
evidence of his death was inconsistent and he was very likely alive.
Hakeemullah resurfaced on May 2, 2010 in a video that was sent by a Taliban spokesman to The Long War Journal
just hours after the failed Times Square bombing. In the video,
Hakeemullah claimed credit for the attempted attack in the heart of New
York City, and promised further attacks. His deputy,
Qari Hussain
Mehsud, who was also reported killed, also released an audiotape that
confirmed he was alive.
Pakistani officials also claimed Hakeemullah was killed while
clashing with Waliur Rahman Mehsud, the leader of the Taliban in South
Waziristan, in August 2009. The two were said to have killed each other
in a gunfight while arguing over who should take control of the Taliban
after
Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a Predator strike on Aug. 5, 2009.
The reports of the "battle at the shura"
were proven to be false when the two leaders later appeared in the media.
Washington Time
Kabul Time
London Time
