The chief of the Pakistani Taliban has reportedly been killed by a U.S. drone strike.
Sources in Pakistan’s military and government have informed Dawn, an English-language Pakistani daily, that Hakimullah Mehsud, head of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), died Friday after his compound in the Dande Darpakhel region of the North Waziristan Tribal Agency was “completely destroyed” by at least two missiles fired by the unmanned aircraft. The attack killed at least five militants, including the once-elusive Mehsud and his personal guard, Tariq Mehsud.
However, neither the Taliban nor the Pakistani government has confirmed Mehsud's passing.
Dawn reported that Dande Darpakhel is only three miles north of the town of Miramshah, which is believed to be a stronghold for the Pakistani Taliban.
BBC repprted that Mehsud was killed by a total of four missiles that targetted a vehicle he was riding in,
Mehsud, who is believed to be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, has a $5 million bounty on his head from the FBI.
U.S. drone strikes have long been criticized by Pakistani lawmakers because they have inadvertently killed dozens of innocent civilians over the years. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan condemned the strikes, saying they would ruin efforts by the government to enter into peace talks with the Taliban.
Just last week, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif implored U.S. President Barack Obama to cease the controversial drone program.
US Drone Strike Kills Pakistan Taliban Boss: Report
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