There is continuing speculation, in Pakistan and internationally, about the reported death of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud in an August 5, 2009 U.S. drone attack in Pakistan's tribal district of South Waziristan. [1] In addition, new reports have emerged about the deaths of some of his deputies in a battle for succession.
Following is a roundup of developments over the past few days. [2]
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Friday, August 7
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik reports about "information and evidences" being received that Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a U.S. drone attack two days previously in the tribal district of South Waziristan, according to the website of Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jang.
Later the same day, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi quotes Pakistani intelligence as saying that Baitullah Mehsud "has been taken out" and that the government is collecting evidence "to confirm 100 percent," according to the website of ARY OneWorld television. Qureshi's statement is taken as confirmation of Baitullah's killing and speculation grows as to who will succeed him.
Saturday, August 8
According to the Afghan website Pajhwok.com, Qari Hidayatullah, a close aide of Baitullah Mehsud, rejects media reports that Baitullah Mehsud has been killed.
That same day, a report on the website of Pakistani daily The News quotes Hakimullah Mehsud, a strong contender to succeed Baitullah Mehsud, as saying that the Taliban chief is alive. Hakimullah Mehsud also dismisses media reports stating that a meeting of Taliban's Shura (executive council) is discussing who should succeed Baitullah Mehsud, saying that Shura meetings are routine.
Sunday, August 9
The mystery over Baitullah Mehsud's death deepens, after a report on the website of Pakistani daily Dawn quotes "government and security officials" as saying that a Taliban commander, either Hakimullah Mehsud or Waliur Rahman, has been killed during the Shura meeting to choose a successor to Baitullah Mehsud.
On the same day, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that either Hakimullah Mehsud or Waliur Rahman has been killed, according to the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jang. The same daily quotes Hakimullah Mehsud as saying that "the Emir [Baitullah Mehsud is alive and safe. He is in hiding like Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar, under a war strategy."
According to a report in Lahore-based Daily Times newspaper, Taliban commander Qari Hussain maintains that Baitullah Mehsud is alive. On the same day, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi throws a challenge, saying that if Baitullah Mehsud is alive, he should prove it.
Monday, August 10
According to a report in the Lahore-based Daily Times, pro-government rival militant commander Haji Turkistan Bhitani says that Baitullah Mehsud was killed along with 40 fighters in the August 5 U.S. attack, and that Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rahman were killed in a fight over the succession.
According to a report in the Pakistani daily The News, Maulana Noor Said, a close aide of Baitullah Mehsud, insisted that Baitullah Mehsud survived the U.S. drone attack, but is "ill and poor in health." He adds that a video of Baitullah Mehsud will be released soon, either today or tomorrow (August 11, 2009) to prove that he is alive.
Endnotes:
[1] See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 539, "Baitullah Mehsud: His Killing And His Likely Successors," August 7, 2009, Baitullah Mehsud: His Killing and His Likely Successors.
[2] www.jang.com.pk, Pakistan, August 7, 2009; www.thearynews.com, Pakistan, August 7, 2009; www.pajhwok.com, Afghanistan, August 8, 2009; www.thenews.com.pk, Pakistan, August 8, 2009; www.dawn.com, Pakistan, August 8, 2009; The News, Pakistan, August 10, 2009.
