To avenge Mehsud, new Taliban chief warns US of attack

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s Taliban have threatened to avenge the death of their leader in a US strike, as experts warned on Wednesday of possible
attacks by a new leadership keen to prove its strength.

Hakimullah Mehsud late on Tuesday declared himself new chief of the feared Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militia, confirming for the first time that Baitullah Mehsud — insurgent leader since 2007 — was killed this month. Pakistani and US officials have been saying for weeks that Baitullah Mehsud died when a missile from a US drone aircraft hit his father-in-law’s home on August 5, but Taliban officials had insisted the warlord was simply ill.

“He remained unconscious after being seriously injured in a drone attack and died on Sunday,” Hakimullah Mehsud said. On Wednesday the other top contender for Taliban leadership, Wali-ur Rehman, backed his apparent foe’s claim and said he had been appointed rebel chief in the insurgent stronghold of South Waziristan near the Afghan border.