TTP chief Hakimullah surfaces in video amid US, Pak claims about his death

[Naveed Yaseen]

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud, left, is seen with his comrade Waliur Rehman, during his meeting with reporters in the Sararogha area along the Afghanistan border on Sunday. Hakimullah vowed to strike back at Pakistan and the US for the increasing number of drone attacks in the tribal areas. ap


PESHAWAR: New Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud appeared in a video clip broadcast on local television on Monday, dispelling rumours of his death and vowing “severe” new attacks.

But since Hakimullah took over the reins of the TTP in late August, rumours had swirled that he was dead, with a senior US counter-terrorism official on Saturday saying they were looking into reports he was killed during infighting over succession. “I am alive and sitting in front of you. All the stories about my death were baseless. You can see me, that I am alive,” a healthy-looking Hakimullah said in a video clip, AFP reported. “We will take severe revenge for Baitullah’s killing and the continued drone strikes... both the US and Pakistan will have to face the consequences,” he said.

“We have respect for Al Qaeda and the jihadist organisations — we are with them,” he added. Hakimullah said the TTP was “united and stronger than before”. “Our basic aim is enforcement of Islamic law and if thousands of human lives need to be sacrificed, we will not hesitate,” he warned.

The TTP has carved out camps in the mountains of Waziristan, and Washington says the militants are plotting attacks on the West and slipping over the border to target foreign troops in Afghanistan. “If the Pakistan Army tries to launch any offensive in the area, it will face severe resistance, tougher than in the past,” Hakimullah said. staff report/afp

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