Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud (L) sits beside
a man who is believed to be Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal Al-Balawi, the suicide
bomber who killed CIA agents in Afghanistan, in this file still image taken
from video. REUTERS/Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan via Reuters TV/Files
Pakistani Taliban fighters secretly buried their leader early on
Saturday after he was killed by a US drone aircraft and quickly moved to
replace him while vowing a wave of suicide bombs in revenge.
The Pakistani government denounced the killing of Hakimullah
Mehsud as a U.S bid to derail planned peace talks and some politicians demanded
that US military supply lines into Afghanistan be blocked in response.
Mehsud, who had a $5 million US bounty on his head, and three
others were killed on Friday in the militant stronghold of Miranshah in
northwest Pakistan, Pakistani security officials and militants said.
Mehsud's vehicle was hit after he attended a meeting of Taliban
leaders, a Pakistani Taliban fighter said, adding Mehsud's body was “damaged
but recognisable”. His bodyguard and driver were also killed.
He was secretly buried under cover of darkness in the early hours
by a few companions amid fears that his funeral might be attacked by US drones,
militants and Pakistani security sources said.
“Every drop of Hakimullah's blood will turn into a suicide
bomber,” said Azam Tariq, a Pakistani Taliban spokesman.
“America and their friends shouldn't be happy because we will take
revenge for our martyr's blood.”
In May, Mehsud's deputy was killed by drone nearby. Last month,
one of his top deputies was captured in Afghanistan.
Reuters
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