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Pakistan Taliban name Mullah Fazlullah new leader | 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. | 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 particularly hardline commander whose men shot the schoolgirl activist 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". | 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." | 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 news conference at an undisclosed location. | |
When the news was announced, there was reportedly heavy celebratory gunfire in the area around Miranshah, the main town in the tribal area of North Waziristan. | |
Mullah Fazlullah led a brutal campaign in Swat between 2008 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 fled over the border into Afghanistan but Islamabad says he has continued to orchestrate attacks in Pakistan. | |
He was accused of being behind a roadside bomb in September that killed Maj Gen Sanaullah Niazi, the top commander in Swat, along with two other military personnel. | |
Mullah Fazlullah was known for his radio broadcasts calling for strict Islamic laws and earning him the nickname "Mullah Radio". | |
The shooting of Malala Yousufzai in October 2012 sparked outrage in Pakistan and across the globe. | |
The teenager had spoken out against the Taliban's restrictions on girls' education. | |
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. |
The Pakistani government said a 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. | 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. | Regional Taliban commander Khan Said Sajna, said to favour such a move, had been touted as a favourite before the latest announcement. |