The new Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud has surfaced in South Wazirsitan hours before a suicide bomber dressed in Pak army uniform stuck at a UN Office in Islamabad on Monday Oct 5.
This is a blow to the credibility of Pakitani intelligence officials who have been claiming that he was killed in a clash with rivals in the wake of Baituallah Mehsud’s death in a drone attack in August..
In his media interaction, Hakimullah vowed to strike US and Pakistani interests to avenge the killing of his slain leader .
Reports in Pak media said Hakimullah met only five journalists from his Mehsud clan on Sunday at Sararogha in South Waziristan. The area has witnessed several drone attacks.
The clandestine meeting was agreed to on the condition that there would be an embargo on ‘the news’ till Monday.
Hakimullah was seen clad in white salwar-kameez, a black waistcoat and a cap in the footage of tne meeting aired by Pak TV channels. Hakimullah was flanked by senior Taliban commanders Waliur Rehman and Qari Hussain, who is responsible for training suicide bombers. All of them appeared to be in good health.
