Pakistan Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud 'still alive'
Friday, 30 April 2010
Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud survived an American drone attack in the north-west of the country in January, intelligence sources say, reports BBC.
Officials said at the time that he was killed in a US missile attack along with at least 10 suspected militants.
Pakistani intelligence officials now say that Mr Mehsud was only wounded in the attack - although his authority within the Taliban has diminished.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that claims by US and Pakistani officials that Mr Mehsud had been killed always lacked credibility - especially after he reportedly contacted the BBC office in January to dispel rumours of his death.
Officials said at the time that he was killed in a US missile attack along with at least 10 suspected militants.
Pakistani intelligence officials now say that Mr Mehsud was only wounded in the attack - although his authority within the Taliban has diminished.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that claims by US and Pakistani officials that Mr Mehsud had been killed always lacked credibility - especially after he reportedly contacted the BBC office in January to dispel rumours of his death.