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Pakistan Taliban name Mullah Fazlullah new leader | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Pakistan's Taliban have named Mullah Fazlullah as their new leader, after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone attack, a spokesman has said. | |
Mullah Fazlullah is a hardline chief from the Swat area whose men reportedly shot schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai. | Mullah Fazlullah is a hardline chief from the Swat area whose men reportedly shot schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai. |
Mehsud was killed when missiles struck his vehicle in the North Waziristan region on 1 November. | Mehsud was killed when missiles struck his vehicle in the North Waziristan region on 1 November. |
Pakistan's government accused the US of destroying its attempts to start peace talks with the Taliban. | Pakistan's government accused the US of destroying its attempts to start peace talks with the Taliban. |
Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan said that the drone strike was "not just the killing of one person, it's the death of all peace efforts". | |
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Islamabad says Mullah Fazlullah is likely to be very much opposed to any peace initiative. | The BBC's Richard Galpin in Islamabad says Mullah Fazlullah is likely to be very much opposed to any peace initiative. |
One Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, told Reuters: "There will be no more talks as Mullah Fazlullah is already against negotiations with the Pakistan government." | |
Mehsud clan | Mehsud clan |
The announcement was made by the Taliban's caretaker leader Asmatullah Shaheen at a press conference at an undisclosed location. | The announcement was made by the Taliban's caretaker leader Asmatullah Shaheen at a press conference at an undisclosed location. |
There was reportedly heavy celebratory gunfire in the Miranshah area when the news was announced. | There was reportedly heavy celebratory gunfire in the Miranshah area when the news was announced. |
Mullah Fazlullah led a brutal campaign in Swat between 2007 and 2009, enforcing hardline Islamic law that included burning schools, and public floggings and beheadings. | |
A military operation was launched to retake the area. | A military operation was launched to retake the area. |
Mullah Fazlullah reportedly fled over the border into Afghanistan but Islamabad says he has continued to orchestrate attacks in Pakistan. | |
He was known for his radio broadcasts calling for strict Islamic laws and earning him the nickname "Mullah Radio". | |
Prior to the latest announcement, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad said that Mullah Fazlullah was not a member of the Mehsud clan and, if appointed, would face a challenge to control the Mehsud fighters, who make up the bulk of the Taliban's manpower. | Prior to the latest announcement, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad said that Mullah Fazlullah was not a member of the Mehsud clan and, if appointed, would face a challenge to control the Mehsud fighters, who make up the bulk of the Taliban's manpower. |
A Pakistani delegation had been due to fly to North Waziristan to discuss peace talks with Hakimullah Mehsud but he was killed in the drone strike the day before. | |
There had been some hope the new leader of the Taliban would be more open to the peace initiative. | |
Regional Taliban commander Khan Said Sajna, said to favour such a move, had been touted as a favourite before the latest announcement. |