Hakeemullah Mehsud 'killed' in drone strike
16 January, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Intercepted militant radio communications indicate that the leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hakimullah Mehsud, may have been killed in a recent US drone strike, intelligence officials said on Sunday. However, a Taliban official denied that.
The claim that the TTP chief was killed came from officials who said they intercepted a number of Taliban radio conversations. In about half a dozen intercepts, the terrorists discussed whether Hakimullah Mehsud was killed on January 12 in North Waziristan.
Some terrorists confirmed "their chief" was dead, and one criticised others for talking about the issue over the radio.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to reporters.
Taliban spokesman Asimullah Mehsud denied the group's leader was killed and said he was not in the area where the drone strike occurred.
In early 2010, both Pakistani and American officials said 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.
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