Baitullah Mehsud

Baitullah Mehsud was a Pakistani militant who served as a founder and leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He rose to prominence in Waziristan by organizing an alliance of approximately five militant groups in December 2007. U.S. military analysts believed he commanded up to 5,000 fighters during his leadership.

Early life and education

Baitullah Mehsud was born in 1970 in the Landi Dhok village located within the Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Although his tribe's base was in the South Waziristan Agency, his father moved to Bannu for work purposes. He was an ethnic Pashtun from the Broomi Khel side of the Shabi Khel sub-clan. Mehsud was one of five brothers.

While some reports suggest he did not attend a religious madrassa or formal schooling, other sources claim he received early education in Bannu. He reportedly pursued further education in Punjab. During his student years, he maintained an affiliation with the Jamiat Tulaba-e-Islam, which is the student wing of the JUI-F religious party.

Career

Mehsud emerged as a major tribal leader following the 2004 death of Nek Mohammad. In a ceremony involving five leading Taliban commanders, he was appointed as Mullah Omar's governor for the Mehsud area. A leadership rivalry developed between him and Abdullah Mehsud for dominance over the Pakistani Taliban. This dispute continued even after Abdullah died in a raid by security forces.

On 8 February 2005, Mehsud entered into a ceasefire agreement with Pakistani authorities at Sara rogha. Under this deal, the military agreed to withdraw troops from his controlled areas, though the Frontier Corps remained. The government offered him US$20 million for his cooperation in this arrangement. He declined the money and suggested the funds be used to compensate families who suffered during military operations.

The ceasefire ended in July 2005 when Mehsud resumed attacks against security forces after accusing the government of reneging on the deal. By 2006, analysts labeled him as the "South Waziristan's Unofficial Amir." He organized his lashkar into various units to carry out specific tasks. One unit focused on killing individuals who supported the United States or the Pakistani government.

In December 2007, he was declared the first leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. He later announced another ceasefire in February 2008, though the military maintained that operations against his forces continued. In July 2008, he issued a statement threatening the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government if they did not step down within five days.

Mehsud died following a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency drone attack in the Zangar area of South Waziristan. While Pakistani officials initially announced his death on 5 August 2009, some TTP leaders initially denied the report. On 23 August 2009, Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman stated that he died from injuries sustained during the August 5 strike. A video showing his body was received by the BBC on 30 September 2009.

Personal life

Syed Saleem Shahzad described Mehsud as a physically small man who suffered from diabetes. He avoided media attention and refused to be photographed because of his religious beliefs. His first wife bore him four daughters.

Mehsud entered a second marriage in November 2008 with the daughter of an influential cleric, Ikramuddin Mehsud. It was suggested he hoped this marriage would result in a son. Earlier rumors in September 2008 claimed he died at age 34 from kidney failure, but his doctor and associates denied these reports.