CIA missile strike reportedly kills Taliban chief
Mehsud was linked to Bhutto killing, dozens of suicide attacks in Pakistan
Mehsud was linked to Bhutto killing, dozens of suicide attacks in Pakistan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan - Pakistan's Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who led a violent campaign of suicide attacks and assassinations against the Pakistani government, has been killed in a U.S. missile strike, Taliban commanders and Pakistani intelligence officials said Friday.
Mehsud's demise would be a major boost to Pakistani and U.S. efforts to eradicate the Taliban and al-Qaida, but would not necessarily deal a definitive blow to the Taliban in Pakistan. Mehsud has deputies who could step into his place.
Already, Taliban leaders were meeting to nominate Mehsud’s successor, NBC News reported.
Mehsud's demise would be a major boost to Pakistani and U.S. efforts to eradicate the Taliban and al-Qaida, but would not necessarily deal a definitive blow to the Taliban in Pakistan. Mehsud has deputies who could step into his place.
Already, Taliban leaders were meeting to nominate Mehsud’s successor, NBC News reported.
Taliban commanders close to Mehsud told NBC that he had been killed along with his wife in aWednesday’s missile attack on the home of his father-in-law in Pakistan's lawless tribal area. Intelligence officials working in the area told NBC there was a lot of "chatter" pointing to Mehsud's death, but no definitive evidence.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said intelligence showed Mehsud had been killed, but authorities would travel to the site to verify his death.
NBC reported that Mehsud was standing on the roof of the house along with his wife and brother when the missiles hit.
Baitullah, who has been suffering from diabetes and other ailments, was wearing a drip at the time because he has been under medical treatment, NBC said.
Pakistani and U.S. intelligence officials told The Associated Press that the CIA was behind the strike. All spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs described Mehsud as a murderous thug. "If he is dead, without a doubt, the people of Pakistan will be safer as a result," Gibbs said.
Successor?Three Pakistani intelligence officials said the likeliest successor was Mehsud's deputy, Hakim Ullah, a commander known for recruiting and training suicide bombers. Two other prominent possibilities, the officials said, were Azmat Ullah and Waliur Rehman, also close associates of Mehsud.
The officials spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Whether a new leader could wreak as much havoc as Mehsud depends largely on how much pressure the Pakistani military continues to put on the network, especially in South Waziristan in Pakistan's tribal belt. The mountainous region has a leaky border with Afghanistan and fiercely independent, heavily armed tribes hostile to interference by outsiders. The Pashtun tribes from which the Taliban draws most of its fighters straddle both sides of the border.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said intelligence showed Mehsud had been killed, but authorities would travel to the site to verify his death.
NBC reported that Mehsud was standing on the roof of the house along with his wife and brother when the missiles hit.
Baitullah, who has been suffering from diabetes and other ailments, was wearing a drip at the time because he has been under medical treatment, NBC said.
Pakistani and U.S. intelligence officials told The Associated Press that the CIA was behind the strike. All spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs described Mehsud as a murderous thug. "If he is dead, without a doubt, the people of Pakistan will be safer as a result," Gibbs said.
Successor?Three Pakistani intelligence officials said the likeliest successor was Mehsud's deputy, Hakim Ullah, a commander known for recruiting and training suicide bombers. Two other prominent possibilities, the officials said, were Azmat Ullah and Waliur Rehman, also close associates of Mehsud.
The officials spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Whether a new leader could wreak as much havoc as Mehsud depends largely on how much pressure the Pakistani military continues to put on the network, especially in South Waziristan in Pakistan's tribal belt. The mountainous region has a leaky border with Afghanistan and fiercely independent, heavily armed tribes hostile to interference by outsiders. The Pashtun tribes from which the Taliban draws most of its fighters straddle both sides of the border.
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