The Pakistan daily The News reported on August 23, 2009 that the Taliban in Pakistan had appointed Hakimullah Meshud as their new Emir, after their leader Baitullah Meshud was reportedly killed in a U.S. drone attack on August 5, 2009.
Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, deputy Emir of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said that the Taliban Shura (executive council) had made the appointment. However, he insisted that Baitullah Mehsud had not been killed, but that he is ill and that he wanted a successor to be appointed in his lifetime.
Pakistani and U.S. officials believe that Baitullah Mehsud was killed.
Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, who announced August 19, 2009 that he had taken over as acting chief of the group, said that the Taliban Shura, attended by 22 members, had made the appointment after two days of consultations.
Speaking on the Taliban's illicit FM radio station, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, who leads the Taliban militants in tribal district of Bajaur Agency, added: "The Shura has appointed Hakimullah as successor to Baitullah Mehsud. The Shura earlier nominated me as the acting chief, but now I will be again deputy chief."
Maulvi Faqir also declared that he will continue to be the Emir of Taliban in Bajaur Agency, situated along the Afghan border.
In an August 24 editorial, the Lahore-based Daily Times newspaper called Hakimullah Mehsud "a rash swashbuckling fighter who would rather kill than sit down and talk."
Following are some excerpts from the editorial:
Hakimullah "Comes Across as a Rash Swashbuckling Fighter Who Would Rather Kill Than Sit Down and Talk"
"Hakimullah was considered very close to Baitullah and was known to be his driver - an indication of the trust he had in him. However, there are rumours abroad that Hakimullah may not yet be the truly chosen leader and that uncertainty will reign as long as the new leader is not able to show that he has the loyalty of everyone across the FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas, situated along the Afghan border] and Malakand [Swat and neighboring districts of North West Frontier Province]. He is not expected to have problems with the madrassa network in the rest of Pakistan. Already Baitullah Mehsud's in-laws have been picked up by his men - some say on the suspicion that they might have spied on him; others say, for hiding Baitullah's treasure.
"Hakimullah represents the typical breed of long-haired and bearded killers that one sees everywhere in the video coverage of their tribal hideouts. He comes across as a rash swashbuckling fighter who would rather kill than sit down and talk; and not give ground when invited to talks. Above all, he is violently sectarian [opposed to Shi'ites] and, together with commander Qari Hussain, the most savage of warriors with expertise in producing suicide-bombers, has been the scourge of the Shi'ites of Kurram [tribal district], cutting them off from the rest of Pakistan."
"Hakimullah is Also Known for His Slack Allegiance to Any Islamic Ethic"
"Hakimullah is also known for his slack allegiance to any Islamic ethic. His leadership will give encouragement to the criminal aspects of the TTP from Peshawar to Karachi. Incidents of kidnapping for ransom and bank robberies are expected to increase under him. But it will depend on how strong his writ will run among the various terrorist elements. And that in turn will depend on his acquisition of the treasure that Baitullah has left behind. The fight is on for its capture.
"If Hakimullah is not able to lay his hands on the full multibillion treasure trove left behind by Baitullah, Pakistan may expect an increase in criminal violence. The sectarian [Sunni vs. Shi'ite conflicts] graph will rise too. Fortunately, however, Hakimullah's outreach is expected to be seriously limited, encouraging the regional commanders to cut loose and be on their own.
"At the same time, the Pakistan army and the security agencies, now beefed up in numbers and expertise, will have a better chance of taking Hakimullah out, or at least be able to prevent his mischief from escalating the way it did under Baitullah."
