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Pakistani minister confirms death of Taliban leader

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 1, IRNA -- A cabinet minister in Pakistan’s northwest Saturday confirmed the death of a top Taliban commander in a U.S. drone strike in the tribal region.

Qari Hussain Mehsud, the mastermind of Taliban suicide bombers, was reported killed in a U.S. drone strike in North Waziristan tribal region in the first week of October last year.

There had been no official and Taliban confirmation of reports aired by local television channels.

Information Minister of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province Mian Iftikhar Hussain confirmed the death of Qari Hussain, according to Geo television.

The report said that the minister also confirmed the killing of another Taliban leader Azmatullah. He said the government would succeed to eliminate militants in 2011.

Qari Hussain had been running a training camp for suicide bombers in South Waziristan and had been active in violent acts against the Pakistani government.

He had claimed responsibility of two suicide attacks on the procession of Shia Muslims in the cities of Lahore and Quetta in September last year in an audio message.

He was a cousin of Hakimullah Mehsud, the chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

There had been reports of his death on several occasions in the past but those reported proved to be incorrect.

Hussain was reported dead after his home was destroyed in January 2008, but in May 2008 appeared in front of Pakistani media to deny the reports. He was later reported killed in a 23 June 2009 air strike at Makeen in South Waziristan, but then phoned reporters to prove he was alive.

Pakistan government had announced a 10 million rupees reward for the killing or capture of Hussain.

On November 2, 2009 the reward was increased to 50 million rupees ($600,000). Analysts say that if confirmed, it would be a serious blow to the TTP.

Taliban had named Qari Hussain as Ustad-i-Fedayeen (teacher of suicide bomber).

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30163806