Pakistani Taliban Pick New Leader Confirming death of Fazlullah in Drone Strike
The Pakistani Taliban announced it had appointed a new leader on Saturday after the militant group confirmed for the first time its former chief Maulana Fazlullah was killed in a US drone strike last week.
The Pakistani Taliban announced it had appointed a new leader on Saturday after the militant group confirmed for the first time its former chief Maulana Fazlullah was killed in a US drone strike last week.
US forces targeted Fazlullah on June 14 in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, close to the border with Pakistan.
a statement sent to AFP on Saturday TTP spokesman Mohammad Khurasani confirmed Fazlullah was killed in the US drone strike.
“It is a matter of pride that all leaders of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have been martyred by infidels,” Khurasani said, referring to Fazlullah’s two predecessors who were also killed in drone strikes.
The group’s shura council elected Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud to replace him, he added.
Pakistan has long been accused of supporting terrorists and providing safe haven to its leaders.
Noor Wali Mehsud is a Pakistani Taliban leader who has the experience of operation in the cities of Pakistan, including Karachi.
He completed religious education in Faisalabad, Punjab, and recently wrote a book praising Baitullah Mehsud, a former group leader who was killed in a US air strike in 2009.
