Baitullah Mehsud

Baitullah Mehsud, died August 05, 2009.

On 5 August 2009 two missiles from a suspected U.S. drone struck the home of Baitullah’s father-in-law, Malik Ikramuddin Mehsud, and killed the militants second wife.

Two others died in the blast and four children suffered injuries at the compound, where more than 40 people were present at about 1 a.m. local time.

Reuters reports that a Waziristan security official, stated that the other two deceased were militants. Reports emerging a few days later suggested that Baitullah could be one of the dead.

Baitullah Mehsud married the daughter of Ikramuddin, a cleric, in November of 2008.

A U.S. missile strike targeting Mehsud territory in South Waziristan became more common after June 2009, when Pakistan, who has been publicly critical of the missile strikes, declared a military offensive against him.

Baitullah Mehsud was a leading militant in Waziristan, Pakistan and the leader of the Taliban umbrella group, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, formed in December of 2007.

Pakistani security officials announced that Baitullah Mehsud along with his wife and bodyguards was killed on 5th August 2009 in US drone attack in Zangar area of South Waziristan, Pakistan.

Benazir Bhutto Assassination

On December 28th, 2007 the Pakistan government claimed that it had strong evidence regarding Baitullah Mehsud as the man behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, on December 27th, 2007.

Lahore Police Academy Attack-March 2009

In telephone interviews with news media Baitullah Mehsud, he claimed responsibility for the March 30, 2009 attack on the police training academy in Lahore.

Was Baitullah Mehsud Responsible for the April 2009 Binghamton Shootings?

Although the FBI later denied his involvement, Mehsud claimed responsibility for the shootings in Binghamton, New York on Friday, April 3rd, 2009.

Thirteen people were killed in the shooting, after which the attacker committed suicide.

In a telephone interview, Mehsud reportedly confirmed: “I accept responsibility. They were my men. I gave them orders in reaction to US drone attacks.”

This was a claim made despite the gunman being alone and of Vietnamese nationality.

Baitullah Mehsud has been reported dead before and it was not true…the world waits to see if it is true this time. War is hell…a women and children were killed and injured.