LAHORE, Nov 26,2013 (Ihsan Qadir / UPI Next) — The United States’ killing of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a Nov. 1 drone attack has sparked heated debate among Pakistanis amid protests from the government and some political parties.
Mehsud had become head of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, a militant organization based along the Afghan border, in 2009 after the death of Baitullah Mehsud (no relation) in a U.S. drone strike. Washington had put a $5 million bounty on Hakimullah Mehsud’s head.
Pakistan has lodged an official protest with the United States over the attack. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government was in the process of arranging peace talks with the Taliban, which have been staging attacks in the country, when Mehsud was killed.
Read more U.S. killing of Taliban chief sparks debate in Pakistan – UPI.com.