Taliban leader who was declared dead lays bare Pak Govt’s claims

August 26th, 2009 DERA ISMAIL KHAN - The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has acknowledged that its top leader Baitullah Mehsud was dead, ending weeks of claims and counter-claims over his fate following a US missile strike on his father-in-law's house earlier this month. It is the first time that the militant group has acknowledged his death.

August 23rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani intelligence agencies believe the new Taliban chief named by the militant group Saturday is a look alike brother of Hakimullah Mehsud and not the real one, the Online news agency reported. Taliban in order to save their image are giving the impression that Hakimullah Mehsud is alive, while the truth is the man, also called by the same name, who has been selected as the new chief of Teherik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is his look alike brother, the report said citing intelligence sources.

August 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A Taliban faction in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region Saturday declared a 40-day unilateral ceasefire because of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ahmadullah Ahmadi, spokesman for the Taliban group led by Hafiz Gul Bahadar, said: "In respect of the holy month of Ramazan and for the sake of the people, the local Taliban Shura (council) has decided to declare a unilateral ceasefire." The NNI news agency quoted Ahmadi as saying that Taliban commanders in the region have been ordered to stop attacks on the security forces.

August 17th, 2009 Peshawar (NWFP, Pakistan), - At least six people were killed in a car bomb explosion that took place near a petrol station in the tribal dominated area of Charssada on Monday. Among the dead were two women and three children.

August 11th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has still not confirmed the death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud, as it lacks credible evidence. Interior Advisor Rehman Malik said news about Mehsud's death would be confirmed by the government once it gets 'solid evidence' in this regard.

August 10th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - * Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas has said that information gleaned from multiple sources have confirmed the death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud in a CIA missile strike last Wednesday. Claims and counterclaims about whether Mehsud is alive or dead have swirled since the Wednesday drone strike in South Waziristan.

August 8th, 2009 LONDON - A lieutenant of Pakistan's enemy no. 1 Baitullah Mehsud on Saturday rejected reports of the Pak-Taliban chief's death in a US drone strike.

August 4th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - One of Pakistan's most feared Taliban leaders Umer Khalid is alive and well, contradicting government claims that he was killed months ago, reports Sky News. Khalid, who is also known as Abdul Wali, was thought to have died in the Pakistani government's crackdown against extremists.

July 24th, 2009 SWAT - A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban has said militant leader Maulana Fazlullah is in good health, rejecting the claims by security forces that he was wounded in a military offensive in the country's northwest, the Online news agency reported. Pakistan military spokesman Maj.

July 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has once again highlighted that Pakistan is a terror safe haven and said that Al-Qaeda's leadership is based in that country. Clinton's comments came a day before her significant visit to India, where she will be meeting the country's leadership.

July 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States has ruled out any negotiations with the Taliban until it lays down arms and severe all its ties with Al-Qaeda. When enquired about the statement of the Pakistan Army's spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas, that the Pakistan military can bring the Taliban to the discussion table with the United States, the US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said such a possibility can only occur when the Taliban 'repudiates al-Qaeda publicly'.

July 11th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Army was caught unaware on Friday when a media report claimed that it has declared that it could contact the Taliban to broker a ceasefire between the US and the banned extremist outfit. Quoting the ISPR spokesperson Major General Athar Abbas from an 'exclusive interview', the CNN reported that the Pakistan Army is in contact with the Taliban chief Mullah Omar and can bring the warlord and his commanders to the discussion table with the US.

May 31st, 2009 PESHAWAR - In yet another gaffe committed by the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government, the list of the 21 most wanted militant commanders released by it recently also included the name of a person who is already languishing in jail. According to The News, the list of NWFP government's most wanted extremists also included the name of one Taliban commander Liaqat.

May 14th, 2009 LAHORE - Only 38 percent of the NWFP and the FATA is under Pakistan Government's control, a BBC map illustrates. The 18-month-long research covered 24 districts of NWFP, seven tribal agencies and six frontier regions of the FATA.

April 27th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that his country's intelligence believes that Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is dead, but they have no proof to back their claims. "The Americans tell me they don't know, and they are much more equipped than us to trace him.