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Pakistani Taliban appoint new deputy after US drone strike Pakistani Taliban appoint new deputy after US drone strike
(35 minutes later)
Pakistani Taliban militants have chosen a new deputy commander to replace their previous second-in-command who was killed in a US drone strike in the North Waziristan region, sources in the militant group have said.Pakistani Taliban militants have chosen a new deputy commander to replace their previous second-in-command who was killed in a US drone strike in the North Waziristan region, sources in the militant group have said.
The previous deputy commander, Wali-ur-Rehman, was killed in an attack by a missile-firing US drone aircraft in the militant stronghold of North Waziristan, on the north-west Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, on Wednesday, Pakistani security officials and militants said. The previous deputy commander, Wali ur-Rehman, was killed in an attack by a missile-firing US drone aircraft in the militant stronghold on the north-west Pakistan's border with Afghanistan on Wednesday, Pakistani security officials and militants said.
A Pakistani Taliban committee met late on Wednesday to chose a new deputy after Wali-ur-Rehman was buried in a low-key ceremony, three Taliban members told Reuters. A Pakistani Taliban committee met late on Wednesday to choose a new deputy after Rehman was buried in a low-key ceremony, three Taliban members told Reuters.
The Taliban members said the new no 2, Khan Said, 38, had served as Rehman's deputy. He was involved in planning a 2011 attack on a Pakistani navy base in Karachi in which 18 people were killed and a 2012 jail break in which nearly 400 militant inmates escaped, they said. The Taliban members said the new No 2, Khan Said, 38, had served as Rehman's deputy. He was involved in planning a 2011 attack on a Pakistani navy base in Karachi in which 18 people were killed and a 2012 jail break in which nearly 400 militant inmates escaped, they said.
"There was absolute consensus over Khan Said," one Pakistani Taliban member said."There was absolute consensus over Khan Said," one Pakistani Taliban member said.
Wednesday's drone strike, which killed six other people, was the first in Pakistan since a 11 May general election in which strikes by the unmanned US aircraft was a big issue. Wednesday's drone strike, which killed six other people, was the first in Pakistan since the general election on 11 May, in which strikes by unmanned US aircraft was a big issue.
It was also the first reported US drone strike since President Barack Obama announced last week that the US was scaling back the drone programme.It was also the first reported US drone strike since President Barack Obama announced last week that the US was scaling back the drone programme.
The Pakistani Taliban are a separate entity to the Afghan Taliban, though allied with them. Known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, they have launched devastating attacks against the Pakistani military and civilians. The Pakistani Taliban are a separate entity from the Afghan Taliban, though allied with them. Known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, they have launched devastating attacks against the Pakistani military and civilians.
Wali-ur-Rehman had been tipped to succeed Hakimullah Mehsud as leader of the Pakistan Taliban and had been viewed as someone less hostile to the Pakistani military than some other top operatives. Rehman had been tipped to succeed Hakimullah Mehsud as leader of the Pakistani Taliban and had been viewed as someone less hostile to the Pakistani military than some other top operatives.
His death could be viewed as a setback for incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif's efforts to end violence.His death could be viewed as a setback for incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif's efforts to end violence.
He criticised drone strikes during the election campaign, describing them as a challenge to Pakistan's sovereignty. Sharif also offered to hold talks with the militants. Sharif criticised drone strikes during the election campaign, describing them as a challenge to Pakistan's sovereignty. He also offered to hold talks with the militants.
"Wali-ur-Rehman was a serious and mature man, his death could hurt prospects for an expected peace initiative considered by the new government," the official told Reuters. "Wali ur-Rehman was a serious and mature man, his death could hurt prospects for an expected peace initiative considered by the new government," a senior security official told Reuters.
However, many observers said any meaningful settlement with the Taliban was unlikely given Sharif's condition that the starting point for talks be respect for the country's democratic order and institutions.However, many observers said any meaningful settlement with the Taliban was unlikely given Sharif's condition that the starting point for talks be respect for the country's democratic order and institutions.
The White House did not confirm the killing, in line with its practice not to discuss drone strikes.The White House did not confirm the killing, in line with its practice not to discuss drone strikes.
But its spokesman, Jay Carney, said Rehman had "participated in cross-border attacks in Afghanistan against US and Nato personnel and horrific attacks against Pakistani civilians and soldiers".But its spokesman, Jay Carney, said Rehman had "participated in cross-border attacks in Afghanistan against US and Nato personnel and horrific attacks against Pakistani civilians and soldiers".
Drones armed with missiles have carried out numerous strikes against militants in the North Waziristan Pashtun tribal region over the past seven years, sometimes with heavy civilian casualties.Drones armed with missiles have carried out numerous strikes against militants in the North Waziristan Pashtun tribal region over the past seven years, sometimes with heavy civilian casualties.
A US drone killed Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud in 2009.A US drone killed Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud in 2009.
North Waziristan has long been a stronghold of militants including Afghan Taliban and their al-Qaida and Pakistani Taliban allies.North Waziristan has long been a stronghold of militants including Afghan Taliban and their al-Qaida and Pakistani Taliban allies.
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