Baitullah Mehsud
Baitullah Mehsud was born in 1974. Today, he is a leading tribal militia leader in Waziristan, Pakistan. He has a tribal orientation and wants the implementation of Shariah. He is also sympathetic to Al Qaeda and is the leader of the Pakistani Taliban umbrella group, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, formed in December 2007.
September 2007 Rawalpindi Bombings:
Preliminary investigations concerning the September 2007 bombings in Rawalpindi note that Mehsud is the primary suspect behind the attacks. A 18 December 2005 report stated that Baitullah Mehsud, Abdullah Mehsud and Yaldeshev were the subject of a man-hunt. Authorities said they believed that the militants were short of ammunition and would be captured soon.
Baitullah Mehsud was born in 1974. Today, he is a leading tribal militia leader in Waziristan, Pakistan. He has a tribal orientation and wants the implementation of Shariah. He is also sympathetic to Al Qaeda and is the leader of the Pakistani Taliban umbrella group, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, formed in December 2007.
From Landi Dhok to the international front:
Baitullah Mehsud was born in Landi Dhok village in the Bannu District of the NWFP, which lies some distance from the Mehsud tribe's base in the South Waziristan Agency. He hails from the Broomikhel side of the Shabikhel sub-tribe of the Mehsud and is one of five brothers. He avoids media attention and refuses to be photographed in adherence with his religious beliefs. He has never finished formal schooling although he has received some instruction in a Madrassa.
Baitullah Mehsud was born in Landi Dhok village in the Bannu District of the NWFP, which lies some distance from the Mehsud tribe's base in the South Waziristan Agency. He hails from the Broomikhel side of the Shabikhel sub-tribe of the Mehsud and is one of five brothers. He avoids media attention and refuses to be photographed in adherence with his religious beliefs. He has never finished formal schooling although he has received some instruction in a Madrassa.
As a young madrassa student, Baitullah would often travel into Afghanistan to assist the Taliban in its implementation of Shariah.
He emerged as a major tribal leader soon after the 2004 death of Nek Mohammad.[5] In a ceremony attended by five leading Taliban commanders, including Mullah Dadullah, Baitullah was appointed Mullah Omar's governor of the Mehsud area. By 2006, Baitullah Mehsud's growing influence in South Waziristan led some to label him as "South Waziristan's Unofficial Ameer.
A Rediff report published in March 2006 asserted that Mehsud runs a parallel government in North Waziristan and parts of South Waziristan. He collects a kind of tax, described as protection money, in areas under his control and even settles disputes among Waziris, who choose to turn to him rather than the government courts. His personal army's enforcement of sharia includes destruction of schools educating females and the prohibition of music and video. An official in the Northwest Frontier Constabulary described his army:
“Baitullah’s lashkar (army) is very organised. He has divided it into various units and assigned particular tasks to each unit. One of the units been tasked to kill people who are pro-government and pro-US and support the US occupation of Afghanistan. The last person to be killed was Malik Arsallah Khan, chief of the Khuniakhel Wazir tribe, who was killed on 22 February in Wana (in South Waziristan)”
Baitullah extols the virtues of jihad against foreigners and advocates taking the fight to the U.S. and to Britian. In December 2007, Mehsud was declared the first leader of the “Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan”
Efforts towards peace:
Mehsud entered into a ceasefire with Pakistani authorities on 8 February 2005. During the meeting at Sargodha, the Pakistani military agreed to withdraw its troops from areas under Baitullah's control. The removal did not include the paramilitary Frontier Corps, who consist mostly of fellow Pashtuns. In exchange, Baitalluh's followers would not attack government officials, impede development projects or allow foreign militants to operate within their territory.
Mehsud was offered US$20 million for his cooperation in the ceasefire. He declined the money and told Pakistani authorities that they should use the pay-out to "compensate families who had suffered during the military operation.”
The ceasefire agreement ended in July 2005 when after accusing the government of reneging on the deal, Baitullah resumed attacks on security forces.
Mehsud entered into a ceasefire with Pakistani authorities on 8 February 2005. During the meeting at Sargodha, the Pakistani military agreed to withdraw its troops from areas under Baitullah's control. The removal did not include the paramilitary Frontier Corps, who consist mostly of fellow Pashtuns. In exchange, Baitalluh's followers would not attack government officials, impede development projects or allow foreign militants to operate within their territory.
Mehsud was offered US$20 million for his cooperation in the ceasefire. He declined the money and told Pakistani authorities that they should use the pay-out to "compensate families who had suffered during the military operation.”
The ceasefire agreement ended in July 2005 when after accusing the government of reneging on the deal, Baitullah resumed attacks on security forces.
In February 2008, Mehsud announced that he had agreed to another ceasefire with the government of Pakistan. The Pakistani military has officially claimed that military operations against Mehsud are continuing. The New York Times, however, reported that anonymous high-level officials in the Pakistani government confirmed the deal.
In July 2008, Baitullah issued a statement that threatened to take action against the government if the NWFP leaders did not step down within five days. The NWFP parliamentary leaders promptly refused.
In July 2008, Baitullah issued a statement that threatened to take action against the government if the NWFP leaders did not step down within five days. The NWFP parliamentary leaders promptly refused.
Happenings associated with Baitullah Mehsud:
September 2007 Rawalpindi Bombings:
Preliminary investigations concerning the September 2007 bombings in Rawalpindi note that Mehsud is the primary suspect behind the attacks. A 18 December 2005 report stated that Baitullah Mehsud, Abdullah Mehsud and Yaldeshev were the subject of a man-hunt. Authorities said they believed that the militants were short of ammunition and would be captured soon.
Benazir Bhutto Assassination
On 28 December 2007 the Pakistan government claimed that it had strong evidence regarding Baitullah Mehsud as the man behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on 27 December 2007.[18] The Pakistani government released a transcript it asserted was from a conversation between Baitullah Mehsud and Maulvi Sahib (literally "Mr. Cleric"). According to the transcript Maulvi Sahib claimed credit for the attack, Baitullah Mehsud asked who carried it out, and was told, "There were Saeed, the second was Badarwala Bilal and Ikramullah was also there.”
The translation released from Agence France Presse differed slightly from the translation from the Associated Press. According to the transcripts Baitullah Mehsud says he is at, "Anwar Shah's house", in Makeen or Makin. The Agence France Presse transcript identifies Makeen as a town in South Waziristan. Subsequently, both Agence France Presse and NDTV released an official denial by Mehsud's spokesman in which he said that Mehsud had no involvement in the attack, that the transcript was "a drama", that it would have been "impossible" for militants to penetrate the security cordon around Bhutto, and that her death was a "tragedy" which had left Mehsud "shocked". Mehsud's spokesman was quoted as saying: "I strongly deny it. Tribal people have their own customs. We don't strike women.”
On 28 December 2007 the Pakistan government claimed that it had strong evidence regarding Baitullah Mehsud as the man behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on 27 December 2007.[18] The Pakistani government released a transcript it asserted was from a conversation between Baitullah Mehsud and Maulvi Sahib (literally "Mr. Cleric"). According to the transcript Maulvi Sahib claimed credit for the attack, Baitullah Mehsud asked who carried it out, and was told, "There were Saeed, the second was Badarwala Bilal and Ikramullah was also there.”
The translation released from Agence France Presse differed slightly from the translation from the Associated Press. According to the transcripts Baitullah Mehsud says he is at, "Anwar Shah's house", in Makeen or Makin. The Agence France Presse transcript identifies Makeen as a town in South Waziristan. Subsequently, both Agence France Presse and NDTV released an official denial by Mehsud's spokesman in which he said that Mehsud had no involvement in the attack, that the transcript was "a drama", that it would have been "impossible" for militants to penetrate the security cordon around Bhutto, and that her death was a "tragedy" which had left Mehsud "shocked". Mehsud's spokesman was quoted as saying: "I strongly deny it. Tribal people have their own customs. We don't strike women.”
March 2009 Lahore Police Academy Attack
In telephone interviews with news media Mehsud claimed responsibility for the March 30, 2009 attack on the police training academy in Lahore. He told the BBC that the attack was in retaliation for continued missile strikes from American drones for which the Pakistani government shared responsibility. In the same interview Mehsud claimed two other attacks: a March 25 attack on an Islamabad police station and a March 30 suicide attack on a military convoy near Bannu.
In telephone interviews with news media Mehsud claimed responsibility for the March 30, 2009 attack on the police training academy in Lahore. He told the BBC that the attack was in retaliation for continued missile strikes from American drones for which the Pakistani government shared responsibility. In the same interview Mehsud claimed two other attacks: a March 25 attack on an Islamabad police station and a March 30 suicide attack on a military convoy near Bannu.
April 2009 Binghamton Shootings
Although the FBI later denied his involvement, Mehsud claimed responsibility for the shootings in Binghamton, New York on Friday, April 3. 13 people were killed in the shooting, after which the attacker committed suicide. In a telephone interview, Mehsud reportedly confirmed: "I accept responsibility. They were my men. I gave them orders in reaction to US drone attacks." This was a claim made despite the gunman being alone and of Vietnamese nationality.
Although the FBI later denied his involvement, Mehsud claimed responsibility for the shootings in Binghamton, New York on Friday, April 3. 13 people were killed in the shooting, after which the attacker committed suicide. In a telephone interview, Mehsud reportedly confirmed: "I accept responsibility. They were my men. I gave them orders in reaction to US drone attacks." This was a claim made despite the gunman being alone and of Vietnamese nationality.
Relationship with Abdullah Mehsud
Abdullah Mehsud, a Taliban leader who was among the first captives set free from Guantanamo, is sometimes described as Baitullah's brother. Other sources merely assert that they were clansmen, or associates.
Abdullah Mehsud, a Taliban leader who was among the first captives set free from Guantanamo, is sometimes described as Baitullah's brother. Other sources merely assert that they were clansmen, or associates.
Unconfirmed Reports
CNN and various other media sources reported the death of Baithullah Mehsud on 30 September 2008. His "death", at the age of 34, was reportedly due to kidney failure preceded by a short sickness. These rumors have been vehemently denied by many of his close associates, including his aide, his doctor and a Taliban spokesman.
According to breaking news of ARY One World TV of Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud died on 1 October 2008. He is estimated to have died at around midnight. The television says the reports of the death of Mr. Mehsud are yet to be confirmed. Mr. Mehsud has been in ill health for several months and has been suffering from high blood pressure and kidney disease. The Tehrik-e-Taliban has denied the death of Baitullah Mehsud. According to a spokesman, Mehsud was "fit and well." Baitullah Mehsud was also reportedly sighted touring tribal areas in South Waziristan 2 days after his "reported death. Mehsud's doctor also said he had spoken with him after the rumors of his death.
However, it has been reported that local journalists believe that Mehsud did die and that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan have not been willing to confirm his death until a successor has been named.
CNN and various other media sources reported the death of Baithullah Mehsud on 30 September 2008. His "death", at the age of 34, was reportedly due to kidney failure preceded by a short sickness. These rumors have been vehemently denied by many of his close associates, including his aide, his doctor and a Taliban spokesman.
According to breaking news of ARY One World TV of Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud died on 1 October 2008. He is estimated to have died at around midnight. The television says the reports of the death of Mr. Mehsud are yet to be confirmed. Mr. Mehsud has been in ill health for several months and has been suffering from high blood pressure and kidney disease. The Tehrik-e-Taliban has denied the death of Baitullah Mehsud. According to a spokesman, Mehsud was "fit and well." Baitullah Mehsud was also reportedly sighted touring tribal areas in South Waziristan 2 days after his "reported death. Mehsud's doctor also said he had spoken with him after the rumors of his death.
However, it has been reported that local journalists believe that Mehsud did die and that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan have not been willing to confirm his death until a successor has been named.
Baitullah Mehsud
Reviewed by Ahmad Basra
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Reviewed by Ahmad Basra
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1:39 PM
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