US drone strike kills Pakistan Taliban number two: Officials.

US drone strike kills Pakistan Taliban number two: Officials.(ET).

PESHAWAR: A US drone strike killed the number two of the Pakistan Taliban, Waliur Rehman, in the North Waziristan region on Wednesday, three security officials said in what would be a major achievement in the fight against militancy.

The drone strike killed seven people, the security officials said, including Taliban deputy commander Waliur Rehman, in the first such attack since a May 11 general election in which the use of the unmanned aircraft was a major issue.

Waliur Rehman had been poised to succeed Hakimullah Mehsud as leader of the Pakistan Taliban, a senior army official based in the South Waziristan tribal region, the group’s stronghold, said in December.

Intelligence officials said that Mehsud’s brutality had turned his own subordinates against him, while the more measured Rehman had emerged as the group’s primary military strategist.

“If a leader doesn’t behave like a leader, he loses support. For the longest time now, Hakimullah has done the dirty work while Waliur Rehman is the thinker. Taliban fighters recognise this,” said the first Pakistani military source.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have launched devastating attacks against the Pakistani military and civilians.

Drone casualties are difficult to verify. Foreign journalists must have permission from the military to visit the tribal areas along the Afghan border.

Taliban fighters also often seal off the sites of drone strikes immediately so Pakistani journalists cannot see the victims.

The Taliban were not immediately available for comment.

The security officials and Pashtun tribesmen in the northwestern region said the drone fired two missiles that struck a mud-built house at Chashma village, 3km east of Miranshah, the region’s administrative town.

They said seven people were killed and four wounded.

“Tribesmen started rescue work an hour after the attack and recovered seven bodies,” said resident Bashir Dawar. “The bodies were badly damaged and beyond recognition.”Read the full story here.