Islamabad:
Reports indicate that new Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is dead. Pakistan media has indicated that Mehsud's body has been buried.
He was injured in a drone attack on January 16 and reportedly succumbed to his injuries.
The Pakistani Army said that it was investigating reports of Mehsud's death. "We have these reports coming to us," Pakistan Army spokesman General Athar Abbas said, adding: "We are investigating whether it is true or wrong."
A tribal elder told the Associated Press that he attended Mehsud's funeral in the Mamuzai area of Orakzai on Thursday. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the Taliban.
Pakistani intelligence officials have said that Mehsud was targeted in a US drone strike in South Waziristan on January 14, triggering rumors that he had been injured or killed. The strike targeted a meeting of militant commanders in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan.
Mehsud issued two audio tapes after the strike denying the rumours. But Pakistani intelligence officials told the AP on Sunday that they have confirmation that the Taliban chief's legs and abdomen were wounded in the strike.
(With AP inputs)
He was injured in a drone attack on January 16 and reportedly succumbed to his injuries.
The Pakistani Army said that it was investigating reports of Mehsud's death. "We have these reports coming to us," Pakistan Army spokesman General Athar Abbas said, adding: "We are investigating whether it is true or wrong."
A tribal elder told the Associated Press that he attended Mehsud's funeral in the Mamuzai area of Orakzai on Thursday. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the Taliban.
Pakistani intelligence officials have said that Mehsud was targeted in a US drone strike in South Waziristan on January 14, triggering rumors that he had been injured or killed. The strike targeted a meeting of militant commanders in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan.
Mehsud issued two audio tapes after the strike denying the rumours. But Pakistani intelligence officials told the AP on Sunday that they have confirmation that the Taliban chief's legs and abdomen were wounded in the strike.
(With AP inputs)
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