Home Latest News TTP Leader Hakimullah Mehsud Killed in Drone Strike

TTP Leader Hakimullah Mehsud Killed in Drone Strike

by AFP and Staff Report
Naseer Mehsud—AFP

Naseer Mehsud—AFP

Pakistani Taliban chief among four militants killed after two missiles fired on TTP compound.

A U.S. drone strike targeting a vehicle at a Taliban compound killed at least four militants, including Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, in the North Waziristan tribal region on Friday, officials said.

“It was a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan compound which was in use of a top TTP commander,” a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to media.

The strike took place in the Dandey Darpakhel area, five kilometers north of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, a stronghold for Taliban and Al Qaeda linked militants. It came a day after three insurgents were killed in another drone strike that also targeted a rebel compound near Miranshah.

“A U.S. drone fired two missiles targeting a vehicle at the main gate of the compound, killing four militants,” said the official. Another security official also confirmed the attack and casualties.

In addition to the TTP commander, Dawn cites government and security sources as confirming that Tariq Mehsud, the personal bodyguard of Hakimullah Mehsud, and another senior TTP commander were also killed in the strike.

The Government of Pakistan had announced on Thursday that it had initiated the dialogue process to seek peace with the Taliban. On Friday, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid had claimed that the government had not yet contacted anyone within the TTP.

North Waziristan is one of seven semi-autonomous tribal regions in Pakistan. Washington considers these areas a major hub of Taliban and Al Qaeda militants plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan.

The incident comes a week after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged U.S. President Barack Obama to stop drone strikes during a meeting in Washington.

The Pakistani defense ministry Wednesday said 317 U.S. drone strikes in the country’s tribal areas had killed 67 civilians and 2,160 militants in Pakistan since 2008. Other organizations have given much higher estimates for the civilian casualties of drone strikes in the region.

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1 comment

philipine234 November 3, 2013 - 6:28 pm

Wish Pakis had realised it earlier? First they nurtured these snakes, now trying to get out of this barbaric net; won’t be that easy, whatever Pak do??? A monster has no religion, no class, no color but only one evil mission of destruction. Pakis must shun hate, intolerance, aggression, anger, violence. They must desist temptation for carrot n stick. Pakis must evolve their own system for creating wealth than depending upon charities. That to, they waste in terrorist activities, weapons, military etc all d money de get. When drones strike, then cry sovereignty n vanity. How can both go together. US is no fool but Paki establishment is. Paki establishment must evolve their much desired system of administration. World knows, “Who calls the shots in Pak”? Until this malequation is sorted out, there is hardly any credible chance that Pak will survive its self created enemies. Pak must look within. One moment, civil govt starts a dialogue, next moment, their jihadi brigade starts shouting Islamism from the top of their voice. Hafiz Saeed Inc is allowed a free run officially, nay even given booty for buying peace. Terror and peace cannot walk together.

Message:

Paki authorities must shun their islamism, repeat must shun their Islamism if they have to survive.

They must decide, “How do they want their relations with immediate neighbours”? Invoking religion on one hand and expecting others to work under fear and scare of violence, jihad won’t work together. If you can’t clean your own plate, I am affraid, such drones will be inevitable. Like it or not, truth is bitter but its ignorance is not just bitter but fatal…I write it as a well wisher, otherwise I have no intention to waste my time in slugfest only. As an Indian neighbor, I wish Pakis well because our own interest is linked in their welfare. Pak must decide once for all. Future lies in your hands.

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