News Reports Wrong; Hakimullah Dead, Not Running Pakistani Taliban: Pentagon

Amid news reports about Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud being still alive, the Pentagon has said that he is no longer running the terrorist outfit, said media reports.

Hakimullah, who succeeded Baitullah Mehsud as chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, is widely believed to have been killed in a drone attack early this year.

“I can also tell you that I certainly have seen no evidence that the person you speak of is operational today or is executing or exerting authority over the Pakistan Taliban as he once did,” Pentagon Geoff Morrell was quoted as saying while talking to reporters at a news briefing.

“I don’t know if that reflects him being alive or dead, but he clearly is not running the Pakistani Taliban anymore,” he was quoted as saying.

Morrell made the remarks while answering a question if Mehsud was dead or alive.

(Based on internet reports)