By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani intelligence agencies believe the new Taliban chief named by the militant group Saturday is a “look alike brother” of Hakimullah Mehsud and not the real one, the Online news agency reported.
Taliban in order to save their image are giving the impression that Hakimullah Mehsud is alive, while the truth is the man, also called by the same name, who has been selected as the new chief of Teherik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is his look alike brother, the report said citing intelligence sources.
Pakistani officials believe Hakimullah Mehsud is already dead. They said it is a ploy of the Taliban to save its image, as the group received heavy losses in the hands of the security forces.
At a Shura (council) meeting earlier on Saturday, the Taliban declared Hakimullah Mehsud as their new chief.
The interior ministry said Mehsud’s “look alike brother” was specially summoned from
Afghanistan to head the group in Pakistan.
Ministry sources also said the Taliban declared Hakimullah Mehsud as their new chief to prove their top leadership is still alive.