White House: Reported killing of Taliban chief means people of Pakistan safer

October 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama was apprised of Pakistan's current political situation, especially with regard to the wide scale criticism that the Kerry Lugar Bill has received in that country, during an important meeting here, The News reports. Sources said Obama was briefed about the recent developments in Pakistan during an important meeting in the White House.

September 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Experts believe that the US drones have successfully targeted Al-Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in Pakistan killing several top and most wanted extremist commanders. Analysts believe that elimination of tier two extremist leaders was very significant, as it has broken the back of the terror organization, and it would be hard for them to fill the gap.

August 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The Obama Administration said on Friday that it could not confirm that Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who has a 5 million dollars US bounty on his head, had been killed in a missile attack two days ago. "We've seen reports that Baitullah Mehsud has been killed.

August 7th, 2009 Official: US increasingly certain of Mehsud deathWASHINGTON — U.S. authorities are increasingly confident that top Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud was killed in Wednesday's U.S.

July 16th, 2009 US 'disturbed and saddened' by Russian killingWASHINGTON — The White House says it's "disturbed and saddened" by the kidnapping and killing of a Russian human rights activist. White House spokesman Bill Burton says the killing is especially shocking because it comes a week after President Barack Obama visited Moscow and met with members of activist Natalya Estemirova's organization.

June 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - The Pakistan Army has claimed that its Swat offensive has been successful with scores top Taliban leaders being killed, but the fate of Swat Taliban chief Mullah Fazalullah and the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud is still under wraps. Now, the Pakistan security forces have shifted their focus on South Waziristan, the stronghold of Mehsud, and the region where the warlord is believed to be hiding, as experts consider that if Mehsud is nabbed, a large quota of the menace of terrorism would die down in times to come.

June 20th, 2009 White House: Reporter who escaped Taliban now safeWASHINGTON — The president's spokesman says the White House is "very pleased" that a New York Times reporter is safe and returning home after escaping from Taliban captors. David S. Rohde was abducted Nov.

May 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, has said that information war is key to the success of US strategy in Pakistan as it faces a resurgent Taliban. 'Concurrent with the insurgency is an information war.

May 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Saying we are losing the 'information war' against the Taliban, Richard Holbrooke, US special representative, has said winning the information war was key to the success of American strategy in Pakistan as it faces a resurgent Taliban. 'Concurrent with the insurgency is an information war.

May 1st, 2009 White House: Obama to meet with Karzai, ZardariWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama will meet Wednesday with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss their troubled region. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama would meet jointly and separately with the two at the White House.

May 1st, 2009 Obama to meet with Afghan, Pakistan leadersWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama will meet Wednesday with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss their troubled region. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama would meet jointly and separately with the two at the White House.

April 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The Taliban have threatened that they would 'carry out two bombings a week within Pakistan' in retaliation to the US drone attacks. Hakimullah Mehsud, a deputy to Baitullah Mehsud who is the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, said in a telephone interview Sunday that the Taliban were responsible for the suicide attacks in Pakistan's Islamabad and Chakwal, the New York Times reported.

March 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - At least 14 people have been killed in a suspected US drone attack on a Taliban training centre in northwestern Pakistan, the News reported Friday. The late Thursday attack in Barjo village of the Kurram tribal district bordering the Afghan province of Khost also injured more than 40 people, mostly militants, the report said, quoting sources.

February 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - At least 26 people were killed Saturday when a suspected US drone fired two missiles on a militant hideout in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region, an intelligence official said. Seven people were also injured in the attack in South Waziristan, a known sanctuary of Taliban and Al Qaeda militants launching cross-border attacks on international troops in Afghanistan.

February 8th, 2009 BRUSSELS - European Union (EU) Commissioner for external relations, Betina Ferrero-Waldner, Monday condemned the killing of a Polish engineer by Taliban militants in Pakistan, EuAsiaNews reported. 'The perpetrators of this appalling terrorist crime must be pursued and brought to justice.