ISLAMABAD (TIP): A “shocked” Pakistani Taliban on Thursday confirmed the death of its deputy chief Waliur Rehman in a American drone strike and announced it was withdrawing its offer to hold talks with the new Pakistan government over the killing. “I confirm the martyrdom of Waliur Rehman in a drone strike on Wednesday. We are shocked at the martyrdom of our leader but are proud of his sacrifices,” said Ihsanullah Ihsan, spokesman for the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Ihsan said the Taliban was withdrawing its offer of a dialogue with the new government, and would take revenge for Rehman’s killing. “We had sincerely offered a dialogue to the government but we strongly believe that the government has a role to play in the drone strikes,” he said. The Taliban consider the Pakistan government “fully responsible” for the drone strikes because it was “passing on information” to the US, he said.
Rehman and three senior militant commanders were among six persons killed in the CIA-operated drone strike carried out in Chashma Pul area of North Waziristan Agency. Sources said his death would hit the incoming PML-N government’s plans to open a dialogue with the Taliban as mediators were hoping to establish contact with the militants through the relatively moderate Rehman. The PML-N, which won the general election earlier this month, has said it will hold talks with the Taliban and other militants to usher in peace in the country.
Earlier in the day, security officials told journalists in the country’s northwest that Rehman was buried at an undisclosed location on Wednesday night. The US had accused Rehman of involvement in a 2009 suicide attack in Afghanistan that killed seven CIA employees. Rehman was carrying a $5 million bounty on his head. The Pakistani Taliban, formed in late 2007, aims to overthrow the Pakistani government, which it believes is too closely aligned with the US.