The Pakistani government is warning of a new rift with the United States after a CIA drone strike that killed the head of the Pakistani Taliban. Hakimullah Mehsud and six other militants died on Friday when U.S. missiles hit their vehicle in North Waziristan. Mehsud had a $5 million bounty on his head and was accused of responsibility for thousands of deaths. The attack came just as the Pakistani government had relaunched peace talks with the Taliban. Pakistani officials were reportedly set to meet with a delegation of Taliban representatives the following day. Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar called the strike "an attack on regional peace."
Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar: "Brick by brick, in the last seven weeks we tried to evolve a process through which we can bring peace to Pakistan. And what have you done? You have scuttled it on the eve of the day, or one day before, 18 hours before, a formal delegation of respected 'ulema,' or religious leaders, was to fly out to Miranshah and hand over this formal invitation, both as far as the venue is concerned and also as far as certain other issues were concerned."
In addition to announcing a review of U.S. ties, the Pakistani government also summoned the U.S. ambassador to warn of a "standoff" unless drone attacks cease. Also denouncing the strike, the leading Pakistani opposition leader, Imran Khan, proposed a ban on NATO supply trucks insidePakistan. Khan accused the U.S. of sabotaging the peace talks.
Imran Khan: "I feel saddened to say this, but just as the dialogue was about to start today, those Taliban who were to take part in the talks, including Hakimullah Mehsud, were killed by yesterday’s drone attack. It was done to sabotage the talks."
The Pakistani Taliban has reportedly picked Khan Sayed as its new leader. He previously served as second in command.
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