I am Pakistani Taliban chief, says Maulvi Faqir

September 1st, 2009 LAHORE - Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Bajaur Agency chief Maulvi Faqir has said that Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban had no role in the appointment of new Pakistan Taliban chief. He said the Tehreek-e-Taliban council had independently chosen and appointed Hakimullah Mehsud as Baitullah's successor.

September 1st, 2009 LAHORE - No militant belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba or its charity organisation, Jammat-ud-Daawa, has been in included in the Pakistan's top 10 most wanted terrorists list. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed along with other top LeT commanders has been accused of masterminding the deadly Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008, in which 179 people were killed.

August 25th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Interior Advisor Rehman Malik has rejected reports about Hakeemullah Mehsud being appointed as the new chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In an interview with the state television, Malik said reports about Hakeemullah taking over the TTP's command were merely 'speculations'.

August 23rd, 2009 Ruthless new Pakistan Taliban leader namedISLAMABAD — The commander named by members of the Pakistani Taliban as its new leader is as ruthless as his predecessor, taking credit for several attacks, and could order more in the coming weeks to prove the terror network is still in business. Despite the naming of Hakimullah Mehsud to replace ex-chief Baitullah Mehsud, who is believed to have been killed in a CIA missile strike Aug.

August 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A 42-member tribal gathering Saturday appointed Hakimullah Mehsud as the new head of the Pakistani Taliban though the group insists its previous head Baitullah Mehsud is still alive. Talking to BBC from an unknown location, acting TTP head Moulvi Faqir Muhammad categorically refuted reports that Baitullah Mehsud had been killed in a US drone attack last week.

August 22nd, 2009 Report: Pakistani Taliban choose new leaderISLAMABAD — Leading Pakistani Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud has been appointed the new head of the militant group, media reports said Saturday, weeks after Washington and Islamabad said the militants' chief, Baitullah Mehsud, was almost certainly killed by a missile strike. Maulvi Faqir Mohammad told the BBC's Urdu service that a 42-member Taliban council, or shura, appointed a new head because Baitullah was ill.

August 22nd, 2009 Report: Hakimullah new head of Pakistani TalibanISLAMABAD — Leading Pakistan Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud has been appointed the new head of the militant group, media reports said Saturday, weeks after Washington and Islamabad said the militants' chief, Baitullah Mehsud, was almost certainly killed by a missile strike. Maulvi Faqir Mohammad told the BBC's Urdu service that a 42-member Taliban council, or shura, appointed a new head because Baitullah was ill.

August 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has declared Hakeemullah Mehsud as the successor to Baitullah Mehsud. TTP spokesman Maulvi Faqir Muhammad announced Hakeemullah's appointment while claiming that Baitullah was alive, the News reports.

August 22nd, 2009 Pakistani Taliban say new leader chosenKHAR, Pakistan — Hakimullah Mehsud, a Pakistani Taliban commander behind several serious attacks including a deadly attempt to take the Sri Lankan cricket team hostage, has been appointed the new head of the militant group, the aide to another commander said Saturday. Bakht Zada, a close aide to commander Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, told The Associated Press a 42-member Taliban council, or shura, appointed a new head because Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was ill.

August 21st, 2009 Officials: US missile strike kills 7 in PakistanISLAMABAD — A suspected missile attack early Friday destroyed a militant hideout in northwest Pakistan, killing at least seven people, two intelligence officials said. The officials said some people also were wounded when the two missiles hit a compound in the village of Dande Darpa Khel, near Miran Shah in troubled tribal region of North Waziristan.

August 20th, 2009 PESHAWAR - A top Taliban commander, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, has claimed that he has taken charge of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), but rejected reports about Baitullah Mehsud's death. uhammad claimed that Taliban elders had held a meeting recently in which it was decided to make him the 'acting' leader of the group.

August 18th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Security forces on Tuesday captured Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's top spokesman Maulvi Omar and he acknowledged the death of the group's leader in a recent US missile strike, officials said on Tuesday. Hussain said that intelligence agencies had informed him about Maulvi Omar confirming the death of Baitullah during interrogation.

August 18th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Spokesman of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Maulvi Omar has been arrested, a media report said Tuesday. Maulvi Omar was arrested Monday night from Khuazai village in northwest Pakistan's Mohmand tribal agency near the Afghan border, Express TV reported.

June 28th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Government has revised the bounty on the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud increasing it to a whopping 50 million rupees. In its latest advertisement, the government has announced a reward of 50 million rupees for the arrest (dead or alive) of Mehsud, besides announcing rewards on 11 other most wanted militants in the country.

February 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A Taliban commander in Pakistan's tribal region Bajaur has announced a unilateral ceasefire, a television channel reported Tuesday. Maulana Faqir Mohammad, a local Taliban leader in Bajaur tribal agency, has made the announcement on the radio, Dawn News TV channel quoted sources as saying.