Cheetah786
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PANTAGON REPORTING Baitullah Mehsud taken out by hell fire
Baitullah Mehsud bites the dust, confirmed! :)
- Thread starter Cheetah786
- Start date
Pakistan, US check reports of Taliban chief death
AP
By ZARAR KHAN and ISHTIAQ MAHSUD, Associated Press Writer Zarar Khan And Ishtiaq Mahsud, Associated Press Writer – 14 mins ago
ISLAMABAD – U.S. and Pakistani authorities are investigating reports that Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in an American missile strike, officials from both countries said Friday.
If confirmed, Mehsud's demise would be a major boost to Pakistani and U.S. efforts to eradicate the Taliban and al-Qaida.
Mehsud is believed responsible for dozens of suicide attacks, beheadings and target killings in Pakistan. He is allied with al-Qaida and has been suspected in the killing of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Pakistan views him as its top internal threat and has been preparing an offensive against him. The U.S. sees him as a danger to the war effort in Afghanistan, largely because of the threat he is believed to pose to nuclear-armed Pakistan.
The missile strike hit the home of Mehsud's father-in-law in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region early Wednesday. Intelligence officials say Mehsud's second wife was among at least two people killed, and Mehsud associates have claimed he was not among the dead.
Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas cautioned that the reports of Mehsud's death are still unconfirmed.
"We are receiving reports and probing," he said.
The U.S. government is also looking into the reports, according to a U.S. counterterrorism official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.
The counterterrorism official indicated that the United States did not yet have physical evidence — remains — that would prove who died. But he said there are other ways of determining who was killed in the strike. He declined to describe them.
For years, the U.S. has considered Mehsud a lesser threat to its interests than some of the other Pakistani Taliban, their Afghan counterparts and al-Qaida, because most of his attacks were focused inside Pakistan, not against U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
That view appeared to change in recent months as Mehsud's power grew and concerns mounted that increasing violence in Pakistan could destabilize the U.S. ally and threaten the entire region.
In March, the State Department authorized a reward of up to $5 million for the militant chief. And increasingly, American missile strikes — falling by the dozens over the past year — focused on Mehsud-related targets.
While Mehsud's death would be a big blow to the Taliban in Pakistan, he has deputies who could take his place. Whether a new leader could wreak as much havoc in Pakistan as Mehsud could depends largely on how much pressure the Pakistani military continues to put on the Taliban network, especially in South Waziristan.
Pakistan's record is spotty on that front. It has used both military action and truces to try to contain Mehsud over the years, but neither tactic seemed to work, despite billions in U.S. aid aimed at helping the Pakistanis tame the tribal areas.
Mehsud was not that prominent a militant when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks, according to Mahmood Shah, a former security chief for the tribal regions. In fact, Mehsud has struggled against such rivals as Abdullah Mehsud, an Afghan war veteran who had spent time in U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay.
A February 2005 peace deal with Mehsud appeared to give him room to consolidate and boost his troop strength tremendously, and within months dozens of pro-government tribal elders in the region were gunned down on his command.
In December 2007, Mehsud became the head of a new coalition called the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or Pakistan's Taliban movement. Under Mehsud's guidance, the group has killed hundreds of Pakistanis in suicide and other attacks. He is believed to have as many as 20,000 fighters at his beck and call, among them a steady supply of suicide bombers.
Analysts say the reason for Mehsud's rise in the militant ranks is his alliances with al-Qaida and other violent extremist groups. U.S. intelligence has said al-Qaida has set up its operational headquarters in Mehsud's South Waziristan stronghold and the neighboring North Waziristan tribal area.
Mehsud has no record of attacking targets abroad, although he has threatened to attack Washington.
However, he is suspected of being behind a 10-man cell arrested in Barcelona in January 2008 for plotting suicide attacks in Spain. Pakistan's former government and the CIA have named him as the prime suspect behind the December 2007 killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He has denied a role.
He also has withstood threats from within Taliban ranks. A few weeks ago, Qari Zainuddin, the leader of a renegade Pakistani Taliban faction who had criticized Mehsud's tactics, was shot to death — allegedly on Mehsud's orders.
In June of this year, Pakistan said it would launch an offensive against Mehsud in South Waziristan.
In the weeks that have followed, the army has relied heavily on airstrikes to target areas under Mehsud's control, but it has never quite gone full-scale with the offensive. Meantime, the missile strikes continued, raising speculation that the U.S. might get him first.
Pakistan publicly opposes the missile strikes, saying they anger local tribes and make it harder for the army to operate. Still, many analysts suspect the two countries have a secret deal allowing the strikes.
___
Associated Press Writer Pamela Hess contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.
AP
By ZARAR KHAN and ISHTIAQ MAHSUD, Associated Press Writer Zarar Khan And Ishtiaq Mahsud, Associated Press Writer – 14 mins ago
ISLAMABAD – U.S. and Pakistani authorities are investigating reports that Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in an American missile strike, officials from both countries said Friday.
If confirmed, Mehsud's demise would be a major boost to Pakistani and U.S. efforts to eradicate the Taliban and al-Qaida.
Mehsud is believed responsible for dozens of suicide attacks, beheadings and target killings in Pakistan. He is allied with al-Qaida and has been suspected in the killing of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Pakistan views him as its top internal threat and has been preparing an offensive against him. The U.S. sees him as a danger to the war effort in Afghanistan, largely because of the threat he is believed to pose to nuclear-armed Pakistan.
The missile strike hit the home of Mehsud's father-in-law in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region early Wednesday. Intelligence officials say Mehsud's second wife was among at least two people killed, and Mehsud associates have claimed he was not among the dead.
Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas cautioned that the reports of Mehsud's death are still unconfirmed.
"We are receiving reports and probing," he said.
The U.S. government is also looking into the reports, according to a U.S. counterterrorism official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.
The counterterrorism official indicated that the United States did not yet have physical evidence — remains — that would prove who died. But he said there are other ways of determining who was killed in the strike. He declined to describe them.
For years, the U.S. has considered Mehsud a lesser threat to its interests than some of the other Pakistani Taliban, their Afghan counterparts and al-Qaida, because most of his attacks were focused inside Pakistan, not against U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
That view appeared to change in recent months as Mehsud's power grew and concerns mounted that increasing violence in Pakistan could destabilize the U.S. ally and threaten the entire region.
In March, the State Department authorized a reward of up to $5 million for the militant chief. And increasingly, American missile strikes — falling by the dozens over the past year — focused on Mehsud-related targets.
While Mehsud's death would be a big blow to the Taliban in Pakistan, he has deputies who could take his place. Whether a new leader could wreak as much havoc in Pakistan as Mehsud could depends largely on how much pressure the Pakistani military continues to put on the Taliban network, especially in South Waziristan.
Pakistan's record is spotty on that front. It has used both military action and truces to try to contain Mehsud over the years, but neither tactic seemed to work, despite billions in U.S. aid aimed at helping the Pakistanis tame the tribal areas.
Mehsud was not that prominent a militant when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks, according to Mahmood Shah, a former security chief for the tribal regions. In fact, Mehsud has struggled against such rivals as Abdullah Mehsud, an Afghan war veteran who had spent time in U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay.
A February 2005 peace deal with Mehsud appeared to give him room to consolidate and boost his troop strength tremendously, and within months dozens of pro-government tribal elders in the region were gunned down on his command.
In December 2007, Mehsud became the head of a new coalition called the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or Pakistan's Taliban movement. Under Mehsud's guidance, the group has killed hundreds of Pakistanis in suicide and other attacks. He is believed to have as many as 20,000 fighters at his beck and call, among them a steady supply of suicide bombers.
Analysts say the reason for Mehsud's rise in the militant ranks is his alliances with al-Qaida and other violent extremist groups. U.S. intelligence has said al-Qaida has set up its operational headquarters in Mehsud's South Waziristan stronghold and the neighboring North Waziristan tribal area.
Mehsud has no record of attacking targets abroad, although he has threatened to attack Washington.
However, he is suspected of being behind a 10-man cell arrested in Barcelona in January 2008 for plotting suicide attacks in Spain. Pakistan's former government and the CIA have named him as the prime suspect behind the December 2007 killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He has denied a role.
He also has withstood threats from within Taliban ranks. A few weeks ago, Qari Zainuddin, the leader of a renegade Pakistani Taliban faction who had criticized Mehsud's tactics, was shot to death — allegedly on Mehsud's orders.
In June of this year, Pakistan said it would launch an offensive against Mehsud in South Waziristan.
In the weeks that have followed, the army has relied heavily on airstrikes to target areas under Mehsud's control, but it has never quite gone full-scale with the offensive. Meantime, the missile strikes continued, raising speculation that the U.S. might get him first.
Pakistan publicly opposes the missile strikes, saying they anger local tribes and make it harder for the army to operate. Still, many analysts suspect the two countries have a secret deal allowing the strikes.
___
Associated Press Writer Pamela Hess contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.
Vassnti
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Pakistani Taliban chief likely killed: minister | Reuters
Hopefully they are right and Mehsud is now a "good taliban"
A1Kaid
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U.S. Official: 'Strong Indications' Pakistani Taliban Leader Baitullah Mehsud is Dead
U.S., Pakistani Officials Awaiting DNA Tests for "100 Percent" Confirmation
By MARTHA RADDATZ, GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS and NICK SCHIFRIN
Aug. 6, 2009
"There is strong indication" that Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a CIA drone strike that targeted his second father-in-law's house Wednesday, a senior administration official told ABC News.
Strong Indications Pakistani Taliban Leader Baitullah Mehsud is Dead
In this file photo taken on May 24, 2008, Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud (C) speaks to media representatives at his stronghold in the tribal district of South Waziristan near the Afghan border.
(STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)
"Efforts are underway to determine for certain whether it was Mehsud, but there are hopes that it is him," the official said.
A Pakistani official confirmed the report but said they are awaiting 100 percent confirmation from DNA tests.
U.S. officials say they do not have physical evidence yet, but there are "indicators." They hope to obtain, but will not necessarily rely on DNA tests.
The missile attack is also said to have killed at least three people, and Mehsud's second wife is thought by U.S. and Pakistani officials to be among them.
Source: U.S. Official: 'Strong Indications' Pakistani Taliban Leader Baitullah Mehsud is Dead - ABC News
If the news is true, a great string of victories for Pakistan.
U.S., Pakistani Officials Awaiting DNA Tests for "100 Percent" Confirmation
By MARTHA RADDATZ, GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS and NICK SCHIFRIN
Aug. 6, 2009
"There is strong indication" that Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a CIA drone strike that targeted his second father-in-law's house Wednesday, a senior administration official told ABC News.
Strong Indications Pakistani Taliban Leader Baitullah Mehsud is Dead
In this file photo taken on May 24, 2008, Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud (C) speaks to media representatives at his stronghold in the tribal district of South Waziristan near the Afghan border.
(STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)
"Efforts are underway to determine for certain whether it was Mehsud, but there are hopes that it is him," the official said.
A Pakistani official confirmed the report but said they are awaiting 100 percent confirmation from DNA tests.
U.S. officials say they do not have physical evidence yet, but there are "indicators." They hope to obtain, but will not necessarily rely on DNA tests.
The missile attack is also said to have killed at least three people, and Mehsud's second wife is thought by U.S. and Pakistani officials to be among them.
Source: U.S. Official: 'Strong Indications' Pakistani Taliban Leader Baitullah Mehsud is Dead - ABC News
If the news is true, a great string of victories for Pakistan.
Beskar
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Taliban head Mehsud 'may be dead'
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Taliban head Mehsud 'may be dead'
US and Pakistani officials have said they are checking reports that the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, has been killed.
He is said to have died in a missile attack on the home of a relative.
A US official said there was "reason to believe reports of his death may be true, but it cannot be confirmed".
Family members have already confirmed that one of Mehsud's wives was killed when a US drone attacked her father's home in South Waziristan on Wednesday.
The area is a stronghold of Mehsud, who has been blamed by Pakistan for a series of suicide bomb attacks in the country.
About 2,000 people have died in such attacks across the country since July 2007, when government forces besieged and captured a radical mosque in Islamabad from Mehsud's loyalists.
Since then the Taliban in Pakistan have claimed responsibility for some of the worst attacks, but have always denied any role in the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi in December 2007.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Taliban head Mehsud 'may be dead'
US and Pakistani officials have said they are checking reports that the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, has been killed.
He is said to have died in a missile attack on the home of a relative.
A US official said there was "reason to believe reports of his death may be true, but it cannot be confirmed".
Family members have already confirmed that one of Mehsud's wives was killed when a US drone attacked her father's home in South Waziristan on Wednesday.
The area is a stronghold of Mehsud, who has been blamed by Pakistan for a series of suicide bomb attacks in the country.
About 2,000 people have died in such attacks across the country since July 2007, when government forces besieged and captured a radical mosque in Islamabad from Mehsud's loyalists.
Since then the Taliban in Pakistan have claimed responsibility for some of the worst attacks, but have always denied any role in the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi in December 2007.
Enigma SIG
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Hopefully they've taken him out but Rehman malik should confirm the reports and keep it in a veil of secrecy rather than put our country's name to shame with unconfirmed news...
kidwaibhai
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Its great the freak is dead but it would have been nice if he were killed by us and not a drone
Baitullah Mehsud likely killed: Rehman Malik
ISLAMABAD: There is a strong likelihood that Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed along with his wife and bodyguards in a missile attack two days ago, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Reuters.
We suspect he was killed in the missile strike, Malik said on Friday. We have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it.
Meanwhile, Director General ISPR Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas cautioned that the reports of Mehsud's death are still unconfirmed. We are receiving reports and probing, he said.
ABC News cited a senior US official as saying there was a 95 per cent chance that Mehsud was among those killed in the missile strike.
US officials have visual and other indicators it was Mehsud and Pakistanis are now trying to collect physical evidence to be certain, ABC reported.
A US official also told Reuters that there was reason to believe Mehsud was dead.
There is reason to believe that reports of his death may be true, but it can't be confirmed at this time, said the official, providing the information on condition of anonymity.
The official would not comment on the circumstances surrounding Mehsud's possible death.
RUMOURS PERSISTED
A relative of Mehsud's dead wife had initially said the Taliban leader wasn't present when the missiles struck, but rumours that he had either been wounded or killed refused to die down.
The stricken house is some two hours' walk from Makeen, and Taliban fighters had cordoned off the area, refusing to let people enter, according to villagers.
A senior Pakistani security official said that aside from Mehsud's wife, one of Mehsud's brothers and seven of his bodyguards perished in the attack.
The official said intelligence services were trying to discover the identity of another victim, and there was a good chance it was Mehsud.
Intelligence agents had also picked up signs that leaders of various Taliban factions planned to gather for a shura, or council meeting, somewhere in Waziristan later on Friday.Reuters
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Baitullah Mehsud likely killed: Rehman Malik
ISLAMABAD: There is a strong likelihood that Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed along with his wife and bodyguards in a missile attack two days ago, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Reuters.
We suspect he was killed in the missile strike, Malik said on Friday. We have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it.
Meanwhile, Director General ISPR Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas cautioned that the reports of Mehsud's death are still unconfirmed. We are receiving reports and probing, he said.
ABC News cited a senior US official as saying there was a 95 per cent chance that Mehsud was among those killed in the missile strike.
US officials have visual and other indicators it was Mehsud and Pakistanis are now trying to collect physical evidence to be certain, ABC reported.
A US official also told Reuters that there was reason to believe Mehsud was dead.
There is reason to believe that reports of his death may be true, but it can't be confirmed at this time, said the official, providing the information on condition of anonymity.
The official would not comment on the circumstances surrounding Mehsud's possible death.
RUMOURS PERSISTED
A relative of Mehsud's dead wife had initially said the Taliban leader wasn't present when the missiles struck, but rumours that he had either been wounded or killed refused to die down.
The stricken house is some two hours' walk from Makeen, and Taliban fighters had cordoned off the area, refusing to let people enter, according to villagers.
A senior Pakistani security official said that aside from Mehsud's wife, one of Mehsud's brothers and seven of his bodyguards perished in the attack.
The official said intelligence services were trying to discover the identity of another victim, and there was a good chance it was Mehsud.
Intelligence agents had also picked up signs that leaders of various Taliban factions planned to gather for a shura, or council meeting, somewhere in Waziristan later on Friday.Reuters
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Baitullah Mehsud likely killed: Rehman Malik
AgNoStiC MuSliM
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Now be nice little kiddies, stick to the topic and avoid hijacking the thread with snide comments and nonsense. 
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