Have US Predators finally killed Hakimullah Mehsud?

A year ago, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan commander Hakimullah Mehsud was reported to have been killed in a US drone strike.

Amir Mir reports from Islamabad.

This was the second drone attack by Central Intelligence Agency-operated spy planes in North Waziristan. US Predator drones had resumed their strikes on January 10 after a pause of almost six weeks.

Tribal sources claimed that the drone fired two missiles and hit a double cabin pick-up vehicle and a car near the Dogga village in Dattakhel Tehsil, 45 kilometres west of Miramshah, the headquarters of the North Waziristan tribal agency.

According to Dattakhel villagers, some men were sitting in their vehicles after performing their Maghrib prayers when they came under attack.

The pick-up vehicle caught fire and four men were killed on the spot. Their badly mutilated bodies were pulled out of the destroyed vehicle later.

Another person was killed in a car that was targeted by a drone. His body was mutilated beyond recognition. There was no way to ascertain the identity of the slain men.

However, it is now believed that one of those killed was Hakimullah.

Exactly a year ago the international media reported Hakimullah's death in North Waziristan in a January 14, 2011 US drone attack, saying the missiles struck a compound in the Shaktoi area, where the fugitive Taliban commander was asleep.

It was claimed that Hakimullah had died along with 18 other militants. Although TTP spokesman Azam Tariq denied that the TTP commander had died, he did confirm that Hakimullah had been in the area.

On January 16, 2011, the TTP released an audiotape of Hakimullah, who said: 'Today, on the 16th of January 2011, I am saying it again -- I am alive, I am ok, I am not injured ... when the drone strike took place, I was not present in the area at that time.'

Subsequent rumours claimed he had died of injuries received in the attack.

On January 31, 2011, Pakistan state television, PTV, reported that Hakimullah was injured in a drone attack and died three days later. He was reportedly buried in Orakzai Agency.

Reuters, quoting Pakistani intelligence sources, suggested that while he escaped the initial attack, Hakimullah was killed in another attack on January 17, 2011.

As the TTP rejected these reports, The New York Times claimed that American intelligence was 90 per cent sure that Hakimullah was dead.

On February 9, 2011, media reports -- citing TTP sources -- stated that Hakimullah had indeed been fatally wounded on January 14, 2011 and died en route to Karachi for medical treatment.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik and unnamed intelligence officials confirmed to Associated Press that Hakimullah had perished, but provided no further details.

While the Taliban released a videotape of Hakimullah on February 28, 2011, officials questioned the authenticity of the tape as the Taliban commander did not provide details on current events.

On April 28, 2011, Pakistani intelligence sources claimed that Hakimullah had been seriously injured in a strike and that his authority in the TTP had been overshadowed by others.

Hakimullah dispelled all speculation when he was seen in a February 28, 2011 execution video of former ISI official Colonel Sultan Ameer Tarar, better known as Colonel Imam.