Security

Drone War Strikes Militant Chief's Stronghold, Again

Days after a U.S. drone managed to kill Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud (or didn’t, if you can get a Taliban spokesman on the phone), news reports suggest that the robotic aircraft have struck again — this time, hitting a training camp in Mehsud’s mountain stronghold in South Waziristan. As Declan Walsh of the Guardian […]

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PakistanDays after a U.S. drone managed to kill Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud (or didn't, if you can get a Taliban spokesman on the phone), news reports suggest that the robotic aircraft have struck again -- this time, hitting a training camp in Mehsud's mountain stronghold in South Waziristan.

As Declan Walsh of the Guardian reports from Islamabad, Taliban commanders insist that Pakistan's most wanted man is still alive, although government officials are now more confidently proclaiming his death. Intriguingly, Walsh notes, "Some militant commanders issued statements yesterday describing Mehsud as 'seriously ill,' suggesting they were preparing the ground for an admission of his death."

More importantly, reports over the past several days have emerged of infighting amongst militant groups -- signaling a possible succession battle. Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reports that at least 19 Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants had been killed when rival groups clashed over a disputed checkpoint.

Mehsud's turf has been targeted by over a dozen drone attacks, and if the Pakistan Taliban leader manages to pull a Houdini, it will be a setback for those ready to claim an early victory in the remote-control war over Pakistan. As Nicholas Schmidle -- all-around smart guy and author of To Live or To Perish Forever: Two Tumultuous Years in Pakistan -- pointed out last week in Slate, Mehsud's death would hardly mean the end of the Pakistani Taliban.

"Several commanders are waiting to take over from Mehsud, including Qari Hussein, Mehsud's ruthless deputy, who is thought to be most responsible for training suicide bombers," he wrote. "Whether Hussein or another lieutenant takes over, they'll be hoping to strike back."

[PHOTO via HuffPo]

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