Friday, August 17

By Jove, Hakimullah back from the dead again!

On September 5, 2009, Pakistan forces claimed they had captured a man who confessed to killing Hakimullah Mehsud. On October 1, 2009, The Daily Times reported that, according to diplomatic sources, US officials also doubted Hakimullah Mehsud was still alive. On October 4, 2009 Hakimullah met with a small group of reporters to end any speculation of his demise.

In the early hours of January 14, 2010, two missiles from a US drone struck a compound in the Shaktoi area, where it was believed that Hakimullah slept. Unnamed officials speculated that the militant leader was among the 18 killed in the attack ... On January 31, 2010, Pakistan state television reported that Mehsud was injured in the attack and died three days later of his injuries. He was allegedly buried in Orakzai Agency

In January 15, 2012 Pakistani intelligence officials reported that intercepted radio messages between militants indicated Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone airstrike on the 12th of that month.

(Above quotes from Wikipedia article on Hakimullah)

August 17, 2012, [Pakistani] Express Tribune:
ISLAMABAD: Preparations for a military push against hard-line militants in North Waziristan became more explicit on Thursday as a top American general arrived in Islamabad to hold talks with his counterpart.

Gen James N Mattis, Commander of United States’ Central Command (Centcom), arrived in Islamabad late Thursday evening and was expected to meet army chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani. Senior officials told The Express Tribune that the two generals would discuss how to eliminate their “common enemy” — Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud.
[...]
As to whether there's anything in the report to indicate that Pakistan's military is to receive help from the U.S. in going after the Haqqani Network, um:
“The idea is not to go against Haqqani straight … we have suggested taking on Hakimullah and his group first and the Americans have endorsed the idea,” said a senior [Pak] military official requesting anonymity.
Do they know where Hakimullah is? Um:
According to military officials and TTP associates, Mehsud has been in deep hiding in Shawal Valley — a rugged forest region sprawling across North and South Waziristan— and might have lost control over his group.
Translation: They have no idea where he is.

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