From Daily Times
ISLAMABAD: Hakeemullah Mehsud is dead and it is possible that his look-alike might be his brother, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Tuesday. He was talking to reporters after visiting victims of Monday’s suicide attack at PIMS.Wasn't his brother killed in a recent Predator Drone attack? Unless this guy has 16 brothers which is likely.
Damn ! To bad , but it is still worth Knowing that the Taliban ,are having problems , really despise the predator drone Attacks !
Don't worry Hakeemullah , We have plenty of hellfire Missiles !
Dawn.com....
PESHAWAR: New Pakistani Taliban chief Hakeemullah Mehsud appeared in a video clip broadcast on local television on Monday, dispelling rumours of his death and vowing 'severe' new attacks.
Hakeemullah Mehsud claimed to have taken over the reins of the feared Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in late August, after finally confirming that their chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US missile strike that month.
But rumours since swirled that Hakeemullah Mehsud was also dead, with a senior US counter-terrorism official on Saturday saying they were looking into reports he was killed during infighting over the succession.
'I am alive and sitting in front of you. All the stories about my death were baseless. You can see me, that I am alive,' a healthy-looking Hakimullah Mehsud said in a video clip.
DawnNews TV and other private television stations, which showed the video, said the footage was recorded Sunday at an undisclosed location.
'We will take severe revenge for Baitullah Mehsud's killing and the continued drone strikes... both America and Pakistan will have to face the consequences,' said the warlord, believed to be aged about 30.
'We have respect for al Qaeda and the jihadist organisations -- we are with them,' he added.
Reports out of Pakistan suggest that the recently appointed taliban leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, may have been killed in inter taliban clashes.
Hope these reports are true. Ever since we killed the taliban's previous leader, Baitullah Mehsud, various taliban factions have been fighting amongst themselves for control of the terrorist group. If so, then the predator strike that killed Baitullah Mehsud is still paying dividends. AFP
WASHINGTON — Newly anointed Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud may have been killed recently during clashes with a rival faction, a senior US counterterrorism official said Saturday.
"There's reason to believe that Hakimullah may have died recently -- perhaps as the result of factional in-fighting within the Pakistani Taliban," the official told AFP.[...]
Hakimullah, who is believed to be about 30, was tapped to lead the feared Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a missile fired from a CIA-operated drone aircraft on August 5.
Hakimullah's brother, Kalimullah Mehsud, was also killed on Monday in a battle in the lawless insurgent stronghold of North Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, Pakistani security officials said.
He is dead , then He's not , maybe just wounded , NO he is o.k , and in charge !
So like the saying goes "War is deceit" , Hakimullah , was most likely killed ( If he really is dead ) in the gun fight that ensued after Baitullah was killed !
Awesome news if true !
And now Pakistan is going forward with their plans to clear south waziristan ? Did they not just say they were backing off a little bit ?
Dawn.com....
ISLAMABAD: The security forces believe the new Taliban Commander Hakimullah Mehsud is already dead and Taliban in order to save their image are giving the impression that he is alive.
A private TV channel, citing intelligence sources, said it was Hakimullah’s brother who gave the interview to BBC some days ago.
Hakimullah Mehsud’s look-alike brother was specially summoned from Afghanistan to head the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan on a temporary basis while a decision to appoint the new chief was taken by Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
The security forces also said the Taliban declared Hakimullah Mehsud as their new chief to prove their top leadership is still alive. Sources said, the security forces are finalizing preparation to launch a massive offensive against the Taliban in South Wazirisitan.
From what this says Hakimullah Mehsud Is still alive ? You just never Know what to believe when you are dealing with a muslim conflict , War Is Deceit !
But we do have dead Taliban !
....Fox News
PARACHINAR, Pakistan — Pakistani helicopter gunships pummeled several bases of a key Taliban commander in the country's northwest Thursday, killing at least 12 insurgents, intelligence officials said.
The assault came as government forces ratchet up pressure on the northwestern militant network in the wake of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's reported death in a CIA missile strike on Aug. 5.
Military helicopters destroyed several bases and hide-outs Thursday morning near the Kurram and Aurakzai tribal regions run by militant commander Hakimullah Mehsud, three intelligence officials said.
Hakimullah Mehsud is a clansman and top deputy to Baitullah Mehsud and is considered a possible successor as top Taliban leader.
The attacks were on bases in tribal areas near the Afghan border, about 60 miles north of the Mehsud clan's main base in south Waziristan.
The intelligence officials, who sought anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said troops saw the bodies from the air but did not retrieve them. Several militants were also wounded, and the casualties could rise because some people were believed to be still buried under the rubble of their hide-outs, they said.
