Speculation Intensifies Over Pakistan Taliban Leader's Death, The Wall Street Journal, 9 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Speculation that the leader of the Pakistan Taliban has died from wounds sustained last month in a U.S. missile strike intensified Tuesday with midranking Taliban fighters saying their chief was dead even though the militants' spokesman issued a fresh denial. Pakistani military and intelligence officials also said they couldn't confirm the death of Hakimullah Mehsud. But the militants' focus appears to be shifting toward finding a new leader, a sign that increases the likelihood of Mr. Mehsud's death... But in one indication he may be dead this time, there appears to be serious jockeying to succeed him, said tribal elders and midlevel Taliban fighters. They said two men had emerged as likely successors: Wali-ur-Rehman, a prominent Taliban fighter who was passed over for the top job in August, and a relatively unknown commander, Maulvi Noor Jamal. Both men are in their 30s. Mr. Rehman hails from the Mehsud tribe of South Waziristan... Citing militants, the [Samaa] station reported that he had died Sunday while being transferred from the tribal areas to the Arabian sea port of Karachi for medical treatment."
Read the full story.
Related articles:
Pakistan Taliban confirm leader's death, Los Angeles Times, 9 February 2010
Fresh speculation over fate of Pakistan Taliban chief, Reuters India, 9 February 2010
"Pakistan must exploit Taliban leadership rifts", DAWN, 25 August 2009
Related reports:
Competing voices within the Taliban leadership in Pakistan [pdf], The NEFA Foundation, September 2009
Related posts:
Future uncertain following rumours of Taliban leader's death, 5 February 2010
Would Mehsud's death be a "fatal blow" for Taliban?, 2 February 2010
CIA deaths prompt surge in drone strikes, 25 January 2010
Mehsud Jirga agrees to hand over TTP chief, 21 January 2010
Drones target Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Mehsud, kill 20, 18 January 2010
