Hakimullah Mehsud is alive: Report

The death reports of Hakimullah Mehsud, the chief of defunct Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are once again proving false. A private TV channel quoting sources reported Hakimullah Mehsud is still live and safe in some unidentified location of North Waziristan, the tribal area of Pakistan.

“Hakimullah is well and safe in North Waziristan the news related to his killing in the drone attack carried out by the US military is incorrect,” the report added. While quoting another TTP official, it said that Mehsud was not even in the same district, and that their leader was safe.

It also stated that the TTP chief had taken a number of measures to ensure his safety and secrecy. He also avoided using electronic gadgets, communication equipment, such as wireless sets for the same grounds, it added.

Almost a week ago, reports quoting unknown military sources claimed that intercepted militant radio communications indicate the leader of the Pakistani Taliban might have been killed in a recent U.S. drone strike. However, neither the US nor local officials could confirmed that he had been killed.

A report quoting military officials claimed, “Six to seven TTP members were talking to each other through wireless radio in the conversation we heard, talking about Hakimullah Mehsud being hit by a drone when he was heading to a meeting at a spot near Miranshah,”

In early 2010, both Pakistani and American officials claimed that they believed a missile strike had killed Hakimullah Mehsud along the border of North and South Waziristan. They were proved wrong when videos appeared showing him still alive.

Similar media reports, in August 2009, had claimed the killing of the TTP chief, however later incidents proved otherwise.

At that time, Hakimullah, one of several top Taliban commanders considered as contenders for leading the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan following the reported death of Baitullah Mehsud, telephoned Pakistani and foreign media organizations to deny reports of his death in fighting with rival Wali-ur-Rehman.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=10012

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 21 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.