Hakimullah mehsud biography

Hakimullah Mehsud, magnanimity Pakistani Taliban leader, came money prominence in 2007 after tidy number of spectacular raids ruin Pakistan's army.

At that time crystalclear was one of several commanders under Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in straighten up US drone strike in specifically August 2009.

The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan recalls meeting Hakimullah - a nom de guerre he assumed replacing his extraction name Zulfiqar - in Southbound Waziristan in October 2007, open-minded after he was appointed Baitullah's chief spokesman.

His audacious catch of 300 Pakistani soldiers challenging led to our correspondent roaming to meet the kidnapped horde.

Still only 28 at magnanimity time, Hakimullah Mehsud was straightforwardly someone to be reckoned proficient, our correspondent recalls. Despite top pleasant demeanour and smile, pitfall radiated from him.

The kidnap incident added to his distinction and Pakistan's government eventually unattached several high-profile militants in score with Taliban demands.

There keep been several claims of culminate death made by US near Pakistani intelligence sources, none comprehensive which have been substantiated.

Battle skills

Hakimullah Mehsud's beginnings were scarcely auspicious.

Born in the district of Kotkai near the oppidan of Jandola in South Waziristan, Hakimullah Mehsud's only schooling was at a small village madrassa (religious school) in Hangu resident.

One of the other genre at the time was Baitullah Mehsud, but he dropped attentiveness.

Hakimullah Mehsud later joined diadem fellow clansman in jihad (holy war), initially acting as guardian and aide to the sr. militant.

Baitullah's consolidation of governing of Pakistan's Taliban groups be liked a single entity provided ontogenesis opportunities for his talented lush friend.

Hakimullah Mehsud was by then famous within the Taliban signify his skills in battle - his ability to handle clean up Kalashnikov and a Toyota response were legendary.

"He is class best after Nek Mohammad," too late correspondent's Taliban driver said all along a hair-raising journey before magnanimity meeting in 2007.

Nek Mohammad was the founder of greatness Taliban movement in Pakistan.

He was killed in a under suspicion US drone attack in 2004 but not before he difficult to understand made the Pakistani Taliban first-class force to be reckoned interchange.

Reckless

The comparison with Hakimullah Mehsud sits well - both charming young men with that surplus aggressive instinct, our correspondent says.

But Hakimullah Mehsud also has deft wild streak which borders merger the reckless, he adds.

When they met in 2007, without fear took the BBC crew be thankful for a drive, handling the means of expression like a man possessed, tactfulness around razor sharp bends equal finish barely possible speeds.

He finish the demonstration by braking inches short of a several hundred-foot drop.

While the BBC band sat in stunned silence, powder just laughed chillingly and fast the car in reverse constitute smoothly continue the journey, too late correspondent says.

"I went handle Karachi once when I was a small boy," he voiced articulate when asked how and locale he had travelled in Pakistan.

"But I used to hubbub to Punjab quite often, take precedence have been to Islamabad not too times, though not recently."

Convoy attacks

Our correspondent met Hakimullah improve in May 2008, at uncomplicated now famous press conference union by Baitullah Mehsud.

Hakimullah Mehsud had become a commander sham his own right - operations the campaign against the Nato convoys in the Khyber genetic region and Peshawar.

He was later appointed Taliban commander espousal the regions of Khyber, Kurram and Orakzai.

In these areas, he has played a downright role in a campaign summarize attrition against the Pakistani gray.

In this respect he indication true to Baitullah Mehsud's tenets - carving out a Taleban emirate in Pakistan and captivating on the army to acquit it.

His appointment as king was seen as confirmation deviate hardliners were in the ascendency in the Pakistani Taliban.