Waliur Rehman Mehsud. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
The US State Department has disclosed that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s deputy chief Waliur Rehman was targeted and killed by a drone attack on a tip-off provided by a member of the Hakimullah Mehsud-led Taliban group.
Sparking fresh controversy by the statement, it said the US will award the informer $5 million.
According to INP, the State Department refused to disclose the name of the informer; however it has confirmed that the award will be paid. It said that anyone who provides reliable and actionable information deserves the award under the justice programme.
According to media reports, there are serious differences between Waliur Rehman and Hakimullah Mehsud groups of the TTP. These two groups are opposing each other and the person who provided information about the presence of Rehman belongs to the Hakimullah group.
Khan Syed alias Sajan has succeeded Rehman and the Shoaib Khel tribe of the Mehsud group has welcomed his appointment.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (42)
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I don't know why Hakimullah Mehsud is not targeted directly by the army. He is the top figure we need to eliminate in this war. Terrorists have done massive damage to Pakistan and we still fail to realize the imminent threat they pose.
Also did I hear something about $5 Million being awarded to a TTP terrorist. Is USA saying they have no beef against the TTP?
Why has no one considered the possibility that the INDIVIDUAL who collected the reward is now located far away from the Afghan-Pak theatre of the absurd, set up in a nice flat with an income stream for life from the 5 mil!!!
Please do your home work properly..There is no Mehsood tribe as 'Shoaib Khel',,the correct name of this tribe from 'Dre Mehsood' meaning 3 mehsoods is ;Shabbi Khel'...OK
With 5M$ the taliban will hire 500 more to replace one Wali. Either the news is incorrect propaganda or the CIA has gone nuts.
I always thought ET and Dawn were more liberal than The News - but NO, it looks like The News is way ahead of these two. The News lets you fully express your feelings and it always publishes everyone's comments.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-102970-DNA-not-acceptable-as-primary-evidence-in-rape-cases:-CII
@Hashmi: And of course you can prove that the Americans "are protecting their assets" and have "killed a handful of children" with every drone strike! By your logic, the Pakistani army killed "a handful of children" with every artillery shell fired in the FATA region, and killed "a handful of children" with every bomb dropped by PAF jets during operations against the TTP!!!
@Jason Hollier: wishful thinking or completely biased approach.
@Seema: Do you want to sell your soul for bounty???
Musharaff acknowledged in his book, how Pakistanis made millions by handing over dead or alive terrorists to CIA for bounty money. You can hire target killers, suicide bombers if you have money to kill people you hate.
@Seema: Do you want to sell your soul for bounty???
Musharaff acknowledged in his book, how Pakistanis made millions by handing over dead or alive terrorists to CIA for bounty money.
We'll take it from wherever it comes. There's a little less evil in the world after every drone strike. Every death means that scores of Pakistan soldiers will not die in the eventual battle that must come if the country is to survive.
how in the world does the US STATE DEPARTMENT knows who gets killed and how he is born n brought up and he left this group then joined this group??????????????
USA funding a terrorist group?!?! seriously????
Yes yes americans always tell,,,,,,LIES..
$5 million awarded to a member of a terrorist group? what a joke. USA should stop making people fool.
@Enlightened: You have missed the point. Both are from the same group and both are from Mehsud tribe. Hakimullah mehsud is number 1 whereas WaliUrRahman mehsud 'was' number 2 in TTP. Looks like Hakimullah started fearing WaliUrRahman so he sold out to USA and got 2 benefits, $5million as bounty money and got rid of danger of number 2. Islamic unity displayed at best.
The Americans are at least eliminating the enemies of Pakistan whereas Gen Kayani believes only in issuing statements for not taking any action against these barbarians.
This was suspected since Wali group was pushing for dialogue, an act opposed by Hakeem Ullah Mahsood. Secondly, by Killing Wali, Hakeen Ullah would be able to regain the chieftainship of mahsood tribe. The Second in Command of Wali is also suspected to be installed by H U M.
@Sajid Iqbal: Do you want to sell your soul for bounty???
Tip off is just a fails story- those who are not with them means death,I leave it to your imagination-guess-
Bottom line is that Taliban are in favor of drone strike if it hit their opponents . So why we Pakistani are making so much noise against drone strike .
US propaganda! Why would they ask their enemy to kill for them? They have no shortage of weapons to do the job themselves.
Set a Devil to Kill another Devil
I think we know what Hakimullah might do with his $5 Million. USA sponsoring TTP?
That’s great news. They are grimy people in all forms and manifestations. No one’s death should be celebrated, but this man had his body and soul soiled the blood of innocent people. I am very happy that he died the death he deserved.
@Mirza: Agreed, but in my eyes this kind of Information policy is psychological warfare rather than based on real facts.
A per expectations, US came up with story which unfortunately no one can verify. US very innocently no only recused themselves but also Pakistani helping hands. If some one wanted to happy in buying such stupid story is welcome to do so.
The information is passed on to US by the member of Hakimullah group through Zaid Hamid as per ISI preliminary inquiry.
Just goes to show that the TTP are nothing but a bunch of spineless criminals, ready to stab each other in the back
What differences? Is one of them a fan of jam roly poly with custard, and the other one isnt?
Seems Logical, Wali Ur Rehman was bit moderate compared to H U M. come on Khan Syed its your turn now, give the information about Hakeem Ullah Mehsud and make a peace deal with Pakistan and US.
US protecting their assets and taking care of their enemies. What relationship. Pakistan still in ostrich mode US is settling tribal rivalries, siding where their interests are, doing this using drones and killing handful of children every time.
It means the US has come under pressure by changing Pakistani stand on drones and now trying to distract the attention in order to pass on the burden of guilt to the informer instead of killer.
So Drones are for hire against the people you hate? And Hakeemullah group will get $5 Million bounty too. I want to form a group too...Anyone want to join?
They seem to have learned from the British the policy of divide and rule --- playing up real and imaginary differences between one faction and another.
The Rehman group should now the return the favour to the Mehsud group to avenge the killing of its top commander by droning them out by the Americans.
God is great ! enemies killing another enemy with the support of another enemy
Is this article suggesting that Hakimullah Mehsud and the USA teamed up bring down a common enemy and now Hakimullah group is going to get $5 million for it?
5$ million for tipping? To another terrorist group. Interesting. Then lets hope we don't see more tailored and expensive weapons of mass destruction in their hands. Well on the other hand, I hope they fight amongst themselves and eventually wipe each other out. But I hope this money actually went to the people who deserve it, Probably the family of the people who lost their lives to TTP's terror.
Taliban should remain united. US is trying to create division among them by offering financial reward. Why can't they pay the same money to the innocent victims of drone attack?
$5million ? Could be a good time to declare myself a bounty hunter and base myself in Waziristan
Let them implode from within. After all there is some natural justice. Thanks a drone!