Leader of Taliban Rumored Dead Again

The leader of the Pakistani Taliban reportedly died from wounds suffered in a drone strike, according to a state-run Pakistan Television Corp. report. Hakimullah Mehsud, 28, was reportedly hit on January 14 in a Taliban stronghold in South Waziristan. His funeral was reportedly on January 27. The Pakistani military, which was leading an attack against Mehsud and his followers, could not confirm the report of his death, but a Pakistani intelligence officer said he didn’t believe the reports to be accurate. The terrorist group would likely be taken over by either chief military strategist Wali ur Rehman or the chief instructor on suicide bombers Qari Hussain. This is not the first time Mehsud was believed to be dead—last September, it was reported he was killed in a succession fight with Rehman.