Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mehsood killed in U.S. drone strike

Pakistani Taliban Chief, Hakimullah Mehsood was killed in a U.S. drone attack in North Waziristan tribal region late Friday, security sources said.

Security sources said that Tariq Mehsood, the personal guard of the Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mehsood, and his driver Abdullah Mehsood were among those killed

U.S. missiles struck the vehicle being used by Hakimullah Mehsood and a compound where the Taliban had been holding central council’s meeting at Dandey Darpakhel area, a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.

Sources in North Waziristan say that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has confirmed their chief’s death and the report. They said Taliban announced his funeral will be held in North Waziristan on Saturday.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan did not confirm claim by the security sources.

Taliban sources said the Taliban senior leaders were holding meeting of their central council to chalk out strategy for the talks with the government when targeted by the U.S. missiles. Hakimullah Mehsood was scheduled to preside over the council’s meeting.

Three other Taliban commanders were also killed in the strike.

The Interior Minister angrily reacted to the U.S. attack as it was carried out at a time when the government was set to begin talks with the Taliban militants.

He said in a statement that the government has planned to send a three member delegation for initial discussion with the Taliban on Saturday.

“We think that the latest drone attack was an attempt to sabotage the dialogue,” Chaudhry Nisar said.

Another report said that the local Taliban chief, Hafiz Gul Bahadar, Friday asked the residents to leave North Waziristan for a week in view of the deteriorating situation in the region.

A pamphlet distributed in the region asked the people to take their precious items with them.

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