Word: mehsuds
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...Born into the Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan. Attended a village madrassa in Hangu district but left before completing his studies...
...Once served as Baitullah Mehsud's driver. Was appointed the Taliban commander's chief spokesman...
...Taliban has ravaged Pakistan, but its leadership is in tatters. After weeks of denials, two Pakistani Taliban commanders admitted on Aug. 25 that the group's chief, Baitullah Mehsud, had been killed in an Aug. 5 U.S. missile strike. The commanders also confirmed reports that Hakimullah Mehsud, a regional chieftain close to Baitullah and one of the organization's rising stars, had been tapped to take...
...Islamabad Dead ...? U.S. and Pakistani officials strongly believe that Baitullah Mehsud, the secretive leader of Pakistan's Taliban, was killed in a U.S. drone attack on Aug. 5 in South Waziristan, despite assurances from a Taliban spokesman that the warlord was "safe." Pakistani officials are awaiting results of DNA analysis comparing the remains with those of Mehsud's brother, who was killed last October. Analysts suspect the Taliban could be denying the death until a replacement for Mehsud is chosen. Meanwhile, two senior Taliban leaders, potential Mehsud successors, were reportedly killed in subsequent days--possibly in a feud for control...
...moment, the apparent death of Mehsud and the infighting among his loyalists has opened a small window of opportunity for Pakistan. "It has to be more proactive and not let the new leader establish himself," says Sherpao, the former Interior Minister. "The government will have to try and win over some of the tribes who were too afraid to challenge the militants." Over the weekend, elders from the Mehsud tribe announced they were prepared to fight the Taliban if they received government backing. That challenge, in the form of a local tribal militia, is already paying off against other Taliban...