Taliban chief killed in Hellfire strike January 17?

Reuters:

Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud may have been targeted in a drone strike on January 17 after surviving a similar attack days earlier near the Afghan border, Pakistani intelligence officials said on Sunday.

The officials said they had received unconfirmed reports that he may have died of wounds after a drone strike on two vehicles carrying militants in North Waziristan.

Pakistan state television reported earlier that Hakimullah was killed and had been buried.

A military spokesman said he had no information on reports of Hakimullah's death.

Although his death would likely create disarray in Pakistan's Taliban, analysts say it would not deal a major blow to the group, which is fighting to topple the pro-American government.

...

He has made about as many recordings as a dead man since January 16. I suspect that is because he is dead. His revile for leadership has probably stepped in and is keeping a low profile to avoid his fate.

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