Pakistan Taliban finally confirms Baitullah death

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has acknowledged that its top leader, Baitullah Mehsud, did after all die earlier this month in a US missile strike.

“Baitullah Mehsud was (critically) injured in a drone attack and died on Sunday (August 23) afternoon,” Hakimullah Mehsud, a top aide to Baitullah Mehsud, told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.

“He remained unconscious after being seriously injured in a drone attack and died on Sunday. Now the shura (meeting of elders) has unanimously appointed me as new emir (head) of Tehrik-e-Taliban,” Hakimullah Mehsud said.

“We will take revenge and soon. We will give our reply to this drone attack to America. The effects of our attack will go up to Washington,” he added.

It is the first time that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has acknowledged Baitullah's death, ending weeks of claims and counterclaims over his fate following a US missile attack on his home.

According to an earlier Taliban announcement, Hakimullah will direct the insurgent group as the new chief while Waliur Rehman will lead the movement's wing in South Waziristan.

The so-called Pakistani Taliban, an alliance of more than a dozen militant groups, is blamed for a wave of devastating attacks on high-profile targets across Pakistan.

Baitullah-led militants have also been involved in cross border attacks against US-led troops stationed in neighboring Afghanistan.

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