Hakimullah Mehsud Is Dead, Confirms Pakistan Taliban

Ending all speculation, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has confirmed death of its chief Hakimullah Mehsud due to injuries sustained in a US drone attack, reported PTI.

Report said that Taliban sources based in the Aurakzai tribal region told TV news channels that Mehsud, 28, was severely wounded in January 14 strike in Shaktoi area of North Waziristan.

He died recently near Multan city in Punjab province while he was taken to Karachi for treatment, said report citing sources, adding his body was taken back to tribal belt.

Nevertheless, reports also had it that Mehsud actually died nearly two weeks ago and was buried in his father-in-law’s village in Aurakzai Agency.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Azam Tariq has not issued a statement about Mehsud’s death as yet, said report.

Tariq has been insisting that Mehsud is alive and at an undisclosed location.

The Taliban sources also said that commander Noor Jamal alias Maulana Toofan had been named as the new chief of the Pakistani Taliban.

Pakistani and US security officials had been saying for the past two weeks that they were certain Mehsud had died of injuries sustained in a US drone attack.

Shortly after reports of Mehsud’s death first emerged in mid-January, the Taliban issued two audio messages in which the dreaded commander claimed he was alive.