| Date: 09/02/2010 Time: 10:19:00 AM |
Taliban Tuesday confirmed the death of their
chief in a US drone attack, ending weeks of speculation, it was reported here.
Hakimullah Mehsud, Chief of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),
was critically wounded in a US drone attack in Waziristan tribal region along
Afghan border last month, local news channel Samaa quoted Taliban sources as
saying.
He died of his wounds few days back while being shifted to Southern Karachi
port city, said Taliban sources, adding, he has been buried in Orakzai tribal
agency.
Hakimullah Mehsud is the second TTP chief killed in US drone strikes in
Waziristan region since August 2009. Earlier, Baitullah Mehsud, who was
suspected to have masterminded the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto, was killed in a US drone strike.
The reports said that Hakimullah’s killing has sparked power struggle
within TTP ranks. A report in local english daily ‘The News’ last week said
that the Mullah Tufan, who was poised to succeed Hakimullah Mehsud, has also
been killed in a road accident. |