US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal (not pictured) in Riyadh November 4, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
Hakimullah Mehsud, who took over as the leader of the al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban in 2009, was killed on Friday, along with three others, in a US drone strike in North Waziristan.
Pakistan denounced Mehsud's killing, mere hours before a peace delegation was due to travel to Waziristan for staging talks, as a US bid to derail peace talks and summoned the US ambassador on Saturday to complain. On Monday, the provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly unanimously approved a resolution that set a 15 day deadline for the Federal government to halt drone strikes before the ground US and Nato military supply lines to and from Afghanistan would be blocked.
Kerry said that while he welcomed any discussions "we are sensitive to the concerns of the country and we look forward to working very closely with the government of Pakistan."
"We intend to continue to work together with them [Pakistanis] through the strategic dialogue that we have established in order to work through these kinds of challenges."
Mehsud, whom the TTP confirmed had been killed in Friday’s drone strike, was described by Kerry as a "man who absolutely is known to have targeted and killed many Americans, many Afghans and many Pakistanis. A huge number of Pakistanis have died at the hands of Mehsud and his terrorist organisation."
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With friends like Mr Kerry who needs enemies? Pakistan is the only major power which allows a foreign power to routinely bomb its countryside, blow little children to pieces, allow foreign nationals to shoot its inhabitants in the back and then release them. The invading country has guaranteed a rough time for Pakistan over the next 10-20 years. One would presume that the brave people writing in and encouraging this mayhem do not live in Pakistan.
@unbelievable: Perhaps the US should concentrate it its terrorist hunt around the White-house, Washington.
@azmat khan: The only thing America is committed to is invading countries which have done it no harm, then robbing, killing and pillaging them. If people cannot work out what the US is currently stealing it would be easy to make out a list. Unfortunately, I doubt if most of the people writing in would have the mental capacity to absorb it so why should anyone bother. However, there will never be peace in the world whilst the current bunch of psychologically damaged people are in charge. The problem is that Americans are very good at smiling and pretending that they only want peace, whilst at the same time planning mayhem and murder. For those people who are encouraging the continuing murder of Taliban people they should remember that the Taliban will still be around in a 100 years from now. If they want another 100 years of war well so be it, but there will be payback so stop complaining when it happens. For those people who cannot think back 13 years be advised that nobody invited the US into the Sub-Continent. They were an invading force and are now an occupying power. Since then they have bombed Libya and Iraq into the stone-age, are doing a rather good job of devastating Syria, and just itching to get at Iran. Sooner or later there will be nothing left of the Islamic world, and you guys are approving it. Sell your souls for a few US dollars if you like although I doubt if most of the people writing in live on the Sub-Continent so you will be quite safe. It will be interesting to see if ET prints this submission. .
US target is Pak nukes, which can only be achieved when there is chaos in Pakistan. US is no friend of Pakistan. This is why the talk were sabotaged. IA the NATO supplies will be stopped.
John Kerry is an experienced Vietnam veteran and has learnt a lot from his experiences. But wait a minute didn't he also take part in protests against the Vietnam war in Washington once he returned. It shows that he is a man of the moment and untrustworthy and hence cost him becoming the President of the USA?. The USA must look after its own wide ranging interests and Pakistan leadership must look after the interests of its own people. This should be possible as long as the Pakistan leadership understands that what the Americans know is not known to others but what the Pakistan leadership knows is known instantly to the Amercian President through the NSA who control the digital communication world wide networks including mobile phones. Unless Pakistan civilian and military establishment switch over to satellite telephone communications.
Rex Minor
Did Kerry informed Nawaz Sharif that the Talibans have killed thousands of Pakistanis or Nawaz already knew that?
US never committed not to operate drone attacks during Pakistan-Taliban talks.Also then talks were not under way and who knew that talks would start or not.When US sighted their such a high profile target how could they spare it.They struck it.This is might of America.
@unbelievable: Proximity of such hideouts to army bases is the best haven for these killers.
US do the right .Mr.kerry is absoluttly right. we Baloch support US war against yTaliban and alqaida an all extremists.
Block the route, please!
I suspect Hilary Clinton would have said that she was disappointed to discover that once again a renown terrorist was found living comfortably within walking distance of a Pakistan military base. Maybe the USA should focus it's terrorist hunt to places near Pakistan military bases?
Mr. did you ever count the number of innocent you and allied has been killing for decades. The number of innocents, women and children has been killing by the America and Allied NATO at the ever in the top over the history of human kind. For long America & Allied countries has opened many fronts since its long history proved that adopting negative attitude, lack of respect for other’s soil, faith and believe, culture and socio economic conditions, integrity and mutual respect. That has been not only demoralized USA (western approach) , its political and democratic ideology, role of UNO, world mutual respect for individual nations, their integrity, respect for diversity but has been expanding insecurity, individualism, centralism, terrorism, corruption, socio-economic instability, competition for resources and has been destroying global peace and human morals. Using the fake and propaganda war on terror, media to safeguard each allied or so called allied mutual interests beyond boundaries, working on mutual agenda and surreptitious compromises, without respect for diversity, culture and traditions, social and moral values, law and faith basically is the death of global integrity, justice, mutual respect and entire humanity……. Considered hostile attitude to resolve petty issues of global security, globalization and extending borders.
Mr.kerry you are right. we are glad about the death of ruthless hakimullah but sympathizers and supporters of extremism will never going to accept this reality. They can't risk their luxurious lives in facing the taliban's ferocity.
Thank you America for derailing this so called peace process which was in fact a surrender of a Nation before criminals, murderers and evil people. The coward politicians who are eager to continue their rule for few more years and greedy generals who have seen total collapse of State of Pakistan in front of their eyes were about to hand over this precious land to dark forces but America has saved us at the eleventh hour. Thank you once again.
Thanks Johan for eliminating the head of TTP thugs. However, you have to do much better than this otherwise you would be responsible for the holocaust of Shia and Ahmedi in Pakistan. The civilized would owes humanity to stop this just like you and Bill Clinton stopped the cleansing of Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo.