This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8219223.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Profile: Zulfiqar Mehsud Profile: Hakimullah Mehsud
(1 day later)
By Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC News, IslamabadBy Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC News, Islamabad
Zulfiqar Mehsud is believed to be in his late 20s Hakimullah Mehsud is believed to be in his late 20s
Zulfiqar Mehsud, who the Taliban say is their new leader in Pakistan, came to prominence in 2007 after a number of spectacular raids against the army. Hakimullah Mehsud, who the Taliban say is their new leader in Pakistan, came to prominence in 2007 after a number of spectacular raids against the army.
At that time Zulfiqar, now known commonly as Hakimullah, was one of several commanders under Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, who officials say was killed in a US drone strike in early August. At that time he was one of several commanders under Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, who the militants have admitted was killed in a US drone strike in early August.
When I met Zulfiqar Mehsud in South Waziristan in October 2007 he had just been appointed Baitullah's chief spokesman. When I met Hakimullah - a nom de guerre, his real name is Zulfiqar - in South Waziristan in October 2007 he had just been appointed Baitullah's chief spokesman.
His audacious capture of 300 Pakistani soldiers had led to us travelling to meet the kidnapped troops.His audacious capture of 300 Pakistani soldiers had led to us travelling to meet the kidnapped troops.
Still only 28 at the time, Zulfiqar Mehsud was clearly someone to be reckoned with. Still only 28 at the time, Hakimullah was clearly someone to be reckoned with.
Despite his pleasant demeanour and cheeky smile, danger radiated from the man.Despite his pleasant demeanour and cheeky smile, danger radiated from the man.
The kidnapping incident added to his prestige. Pakistan's government eventually released several high-profile militants in line with Taliban demands.The kidnapping incident added to his prestige. Pakistan's government eventually released several high-profile militants in line with Taliban demands.
Since then, Zulifiqar Mehsud's star has continued to rise. Since then, Hakimullah Mehsud's star has continued to rise.
Battle skillsBattle skills
But his beginnings were hardly auspicious.But his beginnings were hardly auspicious.
He finished the demonstration by braking inches short of a cliff, and laughed chillingly Militants boast of executionsHe finished the demonstration by braking inches short of a cliff, and laughed chillingly Militants boast of executions
Born in the region of Kotkai near the town of Jandola in South Waziristan, Zulfiqar Mehsud's only schooling was at a small village madrassa in Hangu district.Born in the region of Kotkai near the town of Jandola in South Waziristan, Zulfiqar Mehsud's only schooling was at a small village madrassa in Hangu district.
One of the other students at the time was Baitullah Mehsud, who later dropped out. One of the other students at the time was Baitullah Mehsud, but he dropped out.
Zulfiqar Mehsud later joined up with his fellow clansman in jihad (holy war), initially acting as bodyguard and aide to the older militant.Zulfiqar Mehsud later joined up with his fellow clansman in jihad (holy war), initially acting as bodyguard and aide to the older militant.
But Baitullah's consolidation of most of Pakistan's Taliban groups into a single entity provided growing opportunities for his talented young friend. Baitullah's consolidation of most of Pakistan's Taliban groups into a single entity provided growing opportunities for his talented young friend.
Zulfiqar Mehsud was already famous within the Taliban for his skills in battle - his ability to handle a Kalashnikov and a Toyota pick-up were legendary.Zulfiqar Mehsud was already famous within the Taliban for his skills in battle - his ability to handle a Kalashnikov and a Toyota pick-up were legendary.
"He is the best after Nek Mohammad," our Taliban driver told us during a hair-raising journey before the meeting in 2007."He is the best after Nek Mohammad," our Taliban driver told us during a hair-raising journey before the meeting in 2007.
Nek Mohammad was the founder of the Taliban movement in Pakistan.Nek Mohammad was the founder of the Taliban movement in Pakistan.
He was killed in a suspected US drone attack in 2004, but not before he had made the Pakistani Taliban a force to be reckoned with.He was killed in a suspected US drone attack in 2004, but not before he had made the Pakistani Taliban a force to be reckoned with.
RecklessReckless
The comparison with Zulfiqar Mehsud sits well - both handsome young men with that extra aggressive instinct. The comparison with Hakimullah Mehsud sits well - both handsome young men with that extra aggressive instinct.
Nek Mohammed was killed in a drone strike in 2004Nek Mohammed was killed in a drone strike in 2004
But Zulfiqar Mehsud also has a wild streak which borders on the reckless. But Hakimullah Mehsud also has a wild streak which borders on the reckless.
When we met on that autumn day in 2007, he took us for a drive.When we met on that autumn day in 2007, he took us for a drive.
To demonstrate his skill with the vehicle, he drove like a man possessed, manoeuvring around razor sharp bends at impossible speeds.To demonstrate his skill with the vehicle, he drove like a man possessed, manoeuvring around razor sharp bends at impossible speeds.
He finished the demonstration by braking inches short of a several hundred foot drop.He finished the demonstration by braking inches short of a several hundred foot drop.
While the rest of us sat in stunned silence, he just laughed chillingly and stuck the car in reverse to smoothly continue the journey.While the rest of us sat in stunned silence, he just laughed chillingly and stuck the car in reverse to smoothly continue the journey.
"I went to Karachi once when I was a small boy," he told me when I asked how and where he had travelled in Pakistan."I went to Karachi once when I was a small boy," he told me when I asked how and where he had travelled in Pakistan.
"But I used to go the Punjab quite often, and have been to Islamabad several times, though not recently." "But I used to go to Punjab quite often, and have been to Islamabad several times, though not recently."
I asked him when he was last in Islamabad.I asked him when he was last in Islamabad.
"It was in 2005," he answered, before adding spontaneously: "I was looking for [former President Pervez] Musharraf, but I couldn't find him.""It was in 2005," he answered, before adding spontaneously: "I was looking for [former President Pervez] Musharraf, but I couldn't find him."
He then rattled off the names of a number of Islamabad landmarks which he had scouted during his trip.He then rattled off the names of a number of Islamabad landmarks which he had scouted during his trip.
"I looked all over, but he was not around so I came back.""I looked all over, but he was not around so I came back."
Convoy attacksConvoy attacks
Our second meeting was in May 2008, at the now famous press conference organised by Baitullah Mehsud.Our second meeting was in May 2008, at the now famous press conference organised by Baitullah Mehsud.
Baitullah Mehsud wanted to carve out a Taliban emirate in PakistanBaitullah Mehsud wanted to carve out a Taliban emirate in Pakistan
Zulfiqar Mehsud had become a commander in his own right - masterminding the campaign against the Nato convoys in the Khyber tribal region and Peshawar. Hakimullah Mehsud had become a commander in his own right - masterminding the campaign against the Nato convoys in the Khyber tribal region and Peshawar.
He was later appointed Taliban commander for the regions of Khyber, Kurram and Orakzai.He was later appointed Taliban commander for the regions of Khyber, Kurram and Orakzai.
In these areas, he has played a key role in a campaign of attrition against the Pakistani army.In these areas, he has played a key role in a campaign of attrition against the Pakistani army.
In this respect he remains true to Baitullah Mehsud's ideology - carving out a Taliban emirate in Pakistan and taking on the army to defend it.In this respect he remains true to Baitullah Mehsud's ideology - carving out a Taliban emirate in Pakistan and taking on the army to defend it.
His appointment will be seen as confirmation that hardliners are in the ascendancy in the Pakistani Taliban.His appointment will be seen as confirmation that hardliners are in the ascendancy in the Pakistani Taliban.
It remains to be seen, though, whether he can actually bring all the Taliban factions under his control.It remains to be seen, though, whether he can actually bring all the Taliban factions under his control.
If he can then Pakistan's security establishment's recent claims of victory may have come a bit too soon. If he can, then Pakistan's security establishment's recent claims of victory may have come a bit too soon.