Haq Mila --- Haq Ada Karo

Mian Tufail Mohammad

بعض لوگوں کی زندگی کے اسرار ان کی موت کے بعد کھلتے ہیں۔ جماعت اسلامی کے بانی رکن اور سابق امیر مولانا طفیل محمد کے انتقال پر ملال کے بعد اخبارات میں ان کے پرستاروں نے بلکہ ان کے مخالفوں نے بھی جو مضامین لکھے ہیں اس سے یہ بات تو قطعی طور پر ثابت ہوگئی کہ ہمارا ملک بلکہ امت مسلم نابغۂ روزگار عالم دین اور پاکباز سیاستدان سے محروم ہوگئی۔

لیکن بات یہیں پہ ختم نہیں ہوئی۔ ایک مضمون نگار نے ان کے سیدھے جنت جانے کی بشارت دی جہاں حضرت مولانا مودودی ان کا استقبال کریں گے، ایک نے فرمایا کہ وہ عہد حاضر کے ولی تھے۔ ان کے نظریاتی مخالفین نے انکی سادگی کی تعریف میں پل باندھے اور انکی عبادات کے خشوع و خضوع کا ذکر کیا۔

میں انتظار کرتا رہا کہ شاید کوئی حلوے کا ذکر بھی کر دے۔ ان کی جنرل ضیاء سے قربت اور اس روحانی ماموں بھانجے کی اس جوڑی نے اس ملک کو جس رستے پر ڈالا اس کی بات بھی نکل آئے۔ لیکن ایسا کچھ نہیں ہوا کیوں کہ آج کل ہمارے اکثر تجزیہ نگار، کالم کار کسی منبر پر بیٹھ کر لکھتے ہیں اگر یقین نہ آئے تو کسی اردو اخبار کا ادارتی صفحہ اٹھا کر دیکھ لیجیے اکثر مضامین کا آغاز قرآنی آیت سے ہوتا اور انجام کسی دعا سے یا اکثر بددعا سے۔ ایسے آسمانی دلائل کے سامنے تاریخ، حقائق یا تجزیہ کیا حیثیت رکھتے ہیں۔

دس سال پہلے میری مرحوم مولانا سے ایک مختصر ملاقات منصورہ میں انکی رہائش گاہ پر ہوئی تھی۔ پہلی بات جو مجھے حیران کن لگی وہ یہ کہ منصورہ کے اندر کا ماحول بالکل وہی تھا جو فوجی چھاؤنیوں میں ہوتا ہے۔ ہر چیز انتہائی منظم اور بالترتیب۔ صرف سڑکوں پر مارچ کرتے رنگروٹوں کی کمی تھی۔

یونیورسٹیوں میں مخالفین کی ٹانگیں توڑنے سے لے کر میڈیا کے نیوز روموں کو ہائی جیک کرنے تک، جماعت نے ہر حربہ آزما کر دیکھ لیا لیکن یہ قوم ہے کہ اب بھی انہیں شک کی نظر سے دیکھتی ہے۔ ووٹ دینے کے لیے نکلتی ہے تو پھر کسی پرانے پاپی کو آزمانے کے لیے تیار ہو جاتی ہے۔ کیا یہ محض اتفاق ہے کہ جماعت اسلامی کو دو دفعہ اقتدار میں حصہ ملا دونوں دفعہ فوجی آمروں کے دور میں۔

مولانا مرحوم نے انٹرویو کافی بیزاری سے دیا۔ مسکرانا ان کے نزدیک گناہ نہیں تو بدعت ضرور تھی۔ لیکن انٹرویو کے دوران ایک بار ان سے یہ ’بدعت‘ ضرور سرزد ہوئی۔ میں نے جنرل ضیاء کے دور حکومت اور بھٹو کی پھانسی کے بارے میں ایک سوال کیا۔ فرمایا کہ اس دن تو لوگوں نے حلوے کی دیگیں پکائی تھیں اور بانٹی تھیں۔ ان کے ہونٹوں پر ایک میٹھی سی مسکراہٹ آئی جیسے انہیں حلوے کی شیرینی اب تک یاد ہو۔

مولانا طفیل محمد کو جماعت اسلامی کا مستقل جنرل سیکرٹری مقرر کرتے وقت حضرت مودودی نے مولانا سے پوچھا تھا کہ کیا میں اپنی تقریر میں جماعت اسلامی کے بارے میں یہ کہہ دوں کہ یہ اب لوہے کا چنا ثابت ہوگی؟ مولانا نے ایک توقف کے بعد فرمایا کہہ دیں اور جماعت اسلامی واقعی لوہے کا چنا ثابت ہوئی۔

ہمارے ایک بزرگ فرمایا کرتے تھے کہ محاوروں اور ضرب المثل میں کبھی کبھی صدیوں کی حکمت پوشیدہ ہوتی ہے تو کبھی کبھی صدیوں کی جہالت۔

لوہے کے چنوں کا بھی کچھ ایسا ہی حساب ہے۔ اس چنے سے نہ تو غریب کا پیٹ بھرتا ہے نہ ہی اس کا لوہا کسی کاریگر کے کام آتا ہے۔ یہ صرف اور صرف دشمن کے دانت کھٹے کرنے کے لیے ہے اور جماعت اسلامی نے پہلے جنرل ضیاء کے ساتھ مل کر اور اس کے بعد مشرف کی حمایت کر کے بار بار اپنے دشمنوں کے چھکے چھڑائے ہیں۔

مولانا طفیل اور انکے مرشد مودودی نے لوہے کے چنوں کی جو فصل بوئی اور جس کی آبیاری کبھی امریکی ڈالروں سے کی تو کبھی سعودی ریالوں سے، وہ فصل اب پک کر تیار ہے اور اٹھارہ کروڑ کی بھوکی عوام اس کو دیکھ دیکھ پریشان ہے کہ یا اللہ اس کا کریں کیا۔ حلوہ بھرے پیٹوں پر ہاتھ پھیر کر جواب دیا جاتا ہے کہ ہم دشمنوں کے دانت کھٹے کر دیں گے۔

یونیورسٹیوں میں مخالفین کی ٹانگیں توڑنے سے لے کر میڈیا کے نیوز روموں کو ہائی جیک کرنے تک، جماعت نے ہر حربہ آزما کر دیکھ لیا لیکن یہ قوم ہے کہ اب بھی انہیں شک کی نظر سے دیکھتی ہے۔ ووٹ دینے کے لیے نکلتی ہے تو پھر کسی پرانے پاپی کو آزمانے کے لیے تیار ہو جاتی ہے۔ کیا یہ محض اتفاق ہے کہ جماعت اسلامی کو دو دفعہ اقتدار میں حصہ ملا دونوں دفعہ فوجی آمروں کے دور میں۔

اب جماعت اسلامی ہوس ناک نظروں سے طالبان اور انکے حواریوں کو دیکھتی ہے، مولانا صوفی محمد کو ان کا اصلی مشن یاد کرواتی ہے۔ پاک فوج کو جہاد کے اصل معنی سمجھانے کی کوشش کرتی ہے۔ اے کاش، اے کاش۔۔۔۔

مولانا طفیل اور انکے مرشد مودودی نے لوہے کے چنوں کی جو فصل بوئی اور جس کی آبیاری کبھی امریکی ڈالروں سے کی تو کبھی سعودی ریالوں سے، وہ فصل اب پک کر تیار ہے اور اٹھارہ کروڑ کی بھوکی عوام اس کو دیکھ دیکھ پریشان ہے کہ یا اللہ اس کا کریں کیا۔ حلوہ بھرے پیٹوں پر ہاتھ پھیر کر جواب دیا جاتا ہے کہ ہم دشمنوں کے دانت کھٹے کر دیں گے۔

مولانا طفیل محمد مرحوم سے کسی نے ایک دفعہ پوچھا کہ کیا انہیں مولانا مودودی کے افکار یا شخصیت سے کبھی اختلاف ہوا انہوں نے کہا ہرگز نہیں۔ بس ان کی دو باتیں پسند نہیں تھیں۔ ایک تو نہاری کھاتے اور دوسرا پان۔۔

I protest.

Pakistan

Baitullah Mehsud

What may be the consequences of Mehsud’s death?

Saturday, August 08, 2009
It became official when Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi - who was coincidentally addressing a youth parliament forum - said that intelligence reports stated that Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud had been killed in drone attack in Waziristan on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters his exact words were “He has been taken out”, going on to say that the government was seeking ground verification – presumably DNA evidence – to confirm his death 100 per cent. The same drone strike killed one of his wives and up to seven of his bodyguards and close associates. His death is going to shift the balance of power within the Pakistani Taliban movement of which he was a leading figure, and perhaps trigger a leadership contest as bloody as any of the campaigns he waged against the Pakistani state. That he was killed in an American drone strike rather than being turned in for the $5 million reward by a disaffected supporter or by our own forces is also of note. For years it has been said that the Americans were dragging their feet when it came to Baitullah Mehsud, and despite there being more than one occasion when we passed them actionable intelligence as to his location, they failed to strike. It took the US some time to wake up to the existential threat to the state which he presented, but they eventually did and we may reasonably assume that there was a cooperative effort between our forces and the Americans to achieve what looks like a ‘result.’ Both sides are likely to be pleased with themselves and one-another.

What may be the consequences of Mehsud’s death? Firstly the TTP are going to have to elect a new leader and may have done so by the time these words appear in print. There are three or four names in the frame, but there are questions as to whether any of them can provide the unity of command that Mehsud did. His authority extended to at least six groups operating as a loose collectivity, with family and tribal ties also a part of the glue that held them together. With Mehsud gone so may have cohesion, allowing our own forces to exploit the splits and differences between the various groups. What does seem to be clear is that with Mehsud dead the Taliban are much less likely to be able to mount the kind of threat that they presented to the state in 2008 and the early months of 2009. Talibanisation has been dealt a blow but it is not dead, and is going to remain a potent force which needs to be countervailed with consistent governmental and military policies. It is also probable that the operation that killed Mehsud will be seen as a significant CBM – a confidence building measure – between the Pakistan military and the Americans, where a trust deficit has bedevilled the relationship for many years.

Baitullah Mehsud was the most significant leader to emerge from the Pakistani Taliban in recent years. He was rumoured to be close to Al-Qaeda and to Mullah Omar, rumoured to have had a hand in the murder of Benazir Bhutto, rumoured to be behind any number of bomb, gun and suicide attacks that have terrorised the population. His death is a success but does not represent a war won, which is yet far off and perhaps years away. The greatest battle will to be to win back the predominantly youthful hearts and minds that his perverted view of the world and of Islam had turned to dark thoughts and dark ways – win that battle and we will truly have won the war.

Baitullah Mehsud dead, what next?

Pesh-Imam’s son became Pakistan’s most wanted militant

Born in 1972, Baitullah Mehsud had to suffer an early childhood dislocation when he moved, along with his father, from his Nargosha village to Landi Dhok in Bannu, close to the South Waziristan tribal region.

His father served as a Pesh-Imam (prayer leader) in a mosque in Landi Dhok before moving to Miramshah in North Waziristan and there also he led prayers in a mosque. Baitullah got a little religious education in Miramshah’s Pepal Madressah.

And it was in Miramshah where Baitullah is believed to have come into contact with Taliban militants who persuaded him to join them in the fight against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.He fought well in Afghanistan and established himself as a fighter, a senior security officer, who himself belongs to the Mehsud tribe, recalled.

Baitullah returned to his native South Waziristan after the United States invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime in November 2001.

He shot to prominence after the notorious Taliban commander in South Waziristan, Nek Mohammad, was killed in a missile attack in Wana in June 2004. But he keep a low profile when the one-legged former Guantanamo detainee, Abdullah Mehsud, reined supreme in the Mehsud territory.

His real chance to claim leadership came soon after Abdullah kidnapped two Chinese engineers in October 2004. Miffed that the fiery militant commander had picked up an unnecessary fight with Pakistan’s security forces, a shura of the local Taliban removed Abdullah Mehsud and handed over the command of the Taliban in South Waziristan to Baitullah.

Known for his cool-headedness, the military hailed Baitullah’s ascension, called him a soldier of peace and signed the Sara Rogha agreement with him in February 2005.

The peace agreement collapsed in a matter of months, with both sides accusing each other of violating its terms, leading to the beginning of hostilities that took a huge toll.

Baitullah proved himself a tough warrior, taking due advantage of a territory that was native and treacherous, by defeating two successive military operations.

He catapulted to the limelight when he took hundreds of Pakistani soldiers hostage in August 2007. It was perhaps because of this singular feat that militants in the length and breadth of Fata at a 20-member shura meeting chose him as leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in December 2007.

Baitullah unleashed a wave of suicide bombings in Pakistan. Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani once told journalists that the TTP leader was behind almost all attacks inside Pakistan.

According to a UN report, Baitullah was behind 80 per cent of the suicide bombings in Afghanistan.

He gained in stature to the extent that The Time magazine rated him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Not to be left behind, The Newsweek described him as more dangerous than Osama bin Laden.

Accounts vary about the actual strength of his force, but intelligence agencies put the number of his fighting force at 20,000 to 30,000, including 2,000 to 3,000 foreign militants, mostly of Central Asian origin – Uzbeks and Chechens.

He ran a number of training camps, including those indoctrinating suicide bombers – a weapon – he once called his own atom bombs.

A short-stocky man, Baitullah suffered from diabetes that once prompted reports of serious illness and then death in late 2008. Much to the disappointment of many, the man bounced back to host a big feast of lamb and rice to celebrate his second marriage to a daughter of the local influential tribal leader, Malik Ikramuddin. He, however, remained issueless.

According to one account, he was also the ghost writer of a book in Urdu, Carvan-i-Baitullah Mehsud, using the pen-name of Abu Munib. In the book, he described his ideology, war strategy and details pertaining to his movement.

The United States had announced a $5 million bounty on Baitullah’s head in March this year. But it took Pakistan several months before making up its mind to declare him as Pakistan’s enemy number one and announce a reward of Rs50 million for his capture, dead or alive, in June.

Trouble began to emerge for the TTP leader when the government announced the launching of a military operation against him in June. No ground offensive was launched and the government changed its tactics to use air strikes and artillery, besides imposing an effective economic blockade to stop fuel and food supply to the area. Thousands of Mehsuds fled the area.

He was under pressure both from within his own Mehsud clan, which wanted him to ease it off with the government, and his commanders who egged him on to fight off the military. For the first time, his decision and thought-making process was shaky, an official familiar with the situation in the area said.

He wouldn’t stay in one place for two months and would constantly change places. His nerves were on edge, he remarked.

It is useless to run away. I know some day, one day they will come and get me, one senior official quoted Baitullah as telling a fellow Mehsud tribesman.

Little did the man, described by a senior security official as someone with fox-like instincts to sense danger, suspect that he was exposing himself to a missile target by relaxing with his younger wife on a roof in Zanghara, South Waziristan.

Cow (India) Desire of Hitting Bull (China)

The land of yellow soil China is the world largest country with the area of 3705387 square kilo meters. Its population is over 1.2 billion. However, since 1949 Chinese military top brass with the support of her nation has made their country strong enough to meet any aggression with iron hands. After the collapse of Soviet Union, china emerged as second super power. The calculated opinion of the world economists has declared China as emerging global economic power.

China has dispute on shared 3500 Kilo meter border with India. The relations between two states remained tense since inception of China. Apart from other conflicts, territorial dispute is the major one, which led into Sino-Indo War in 1962. In this war New Delhi faced a great set back in the shape of her armed forces defeat. After fighting a brief border war, the demarcation of the 3500km border between China and India remains unsolved. China came out in a better position after the confrontation, due in part to superior forces and supply lines.

Now just compare India with her neighbouring countries. She has border disputes with China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. On the other hand China has borders with 14 countries and has not dispute with them except India. In particular, Arunachal Pradesh province in northeastern India has continued to be a bone of significant contention with increased oratory from both sides over the past few areas.

It is worth reading that after almost 47 years or so India and China have moved their forces because of continuous increase in tension on the border. According to Indian today and Indian Express Indian Army brought armoured vehicles to the North Sikkim plateau in the late 1980s, the small detachment has now been replaced by the heavier and more powerful T-72 Main Battle Tanks and modern BMP troop carriers. As per newspapers, the mobilisation took place after repeated Chinese transgressions last year in the Finger Area; a one kilometer stretch of land in the northern tip of Sikkim that overlooks a valley called the Sora Funnel and is considered a strong defensive position. The question arises why India once again went for mobilization of forces after so many years. Probable answer could be that after the post cold war era India went close to USA because of the reasons (1) capturing one of the largest market (2) assisting Americans in containing china (3) placing watch dog in Asia to look after her interests (4) prolonging her stay in the region for getting permanent hold over CAR’s states (5) desire of becoming future global power.

On June 9, the Chinese Global Times published an editorial entitled “India’s Unwise Military Moves,” which denounced India’s troop deployment. A thinly veiled warning was explicit within the article: “India’s current course can only lead to a rivalry between the two countries. India needs to consider whether or not it can afford the consequences of a potential confrontation with China.” An affiliate of the People’s Daily published a Chinese language article on June 12 which translates to “India is a paper tiger and its use of use will be trounced, say experts.” It is a provocative article, even referring to India as a paper tiger is a throwback to the language of Mao. The confrontation between India would be amount to Cow hitting the Bull.

Therefore it is evident that India has the desire of moving forward to complete her hegemonic desire of expansion through any means. To complete her aim she even never let her old (Soviet Union) and present (USA) masters to know about covert motives of becoming future global power. In this context Indian leadership always acquired requisite weaponry to get dominance over strategically significant Indian Ocean. It is interesting to know that Indian Ocean is the 3rd largest ocean. 45 states are encircling resources enriched ocean. Almost 30000, ships are annually passing through these routes. The important sea routes are passing through Indian Ocean region. India believes that China and Pakistan are the only encumbrance in her hegemonic design of influencing region and becoming future global power.

Anyhow to complete her design, India has planned to spend US$150 billion over the next 5 years as well as a market open to foreign participation and collaboration, India cannot be ignored. The current defence spending expected to top US$34 billion in 2010. She possess second largest air force in the Asia Pacific region along with substantial naval, coastal and army aviation interests, all of which are planning for substantial modernization, acquisition of new assets and upgrading of existing capabilities in line with India’s rapid economic growth.

As the aerospace defence industry’s leading flagship conference in the region, the 3rd annual Air Power India 2009 international conference offers unrivalled market insights, business leads and networking opportunities. Indian has explored India’s air power strategies, technologies and solution lies in-depth. Retired Brig. Gurmeet Kanwal, director of Center for Land Air Warfare Studies (CLAWS), said that China’s policy is to confine India to the backwater of the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea, as it no more considers the Indian Ocean Region as Indian domain. With this perception, China could choke commerce through IOR. To say the least this is a hasty conclusion, and is in line with Indian thinking that People Republic of China is a dangerous enemy. Speaking on “India’s response to security challenges from China in Indian Ocean Region,” he said, “With the Chinese encirclement strategy, commerce through the Indian Ocean Region could be easily choked by way of disruptions of trade routes through sea. Defense of far-flung island territories and delineation of maritime boundaries are some of the maritime challenges for India, Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal reiterated. India is busy developing blue water navy, with two aircraft-carriers, twenty submarines, 25 warships and hundreds of missile boats to defeat the Chinese Navy.

On July 27, 2009 India has also launched its first indigenously made nuclear powered submarine ‘INS-Arihant’ (Destroyer of the enemy). Thus, she joined an exclusive club of US, Russia, China, France and the UK with the launch. The 6000-tonne submarine will undergo sea trials for two years before being commissioned for full service.

In 2004, Russia already built three Krivak class frigates – INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar – for India. These frigates were armed with eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile systems and not the Club-N/3M54TE missile system, which was installed on previous frigates. The Krivak class frigate has deadweight of 4,000 metric tons and a speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines. India is to receive three Russian Krivak IV Class Frigates by 2012.

On July 28, 2009 Pakistan Foreign Office has said that such a step would destabilise the region and would have a detrimental effect on regional peace. He further added that continued induction of new lethal weapon systems by India is detrimental to regional peace and stability. The induction of nuclear submarine by India has really started the arms race in the region. Pakistan, China’s worries in this connection are very genuine. China is also watching the ambitious desire of New Delhi with regard to nuclear expansion. Beijing has also started building necessary naval armament to counter Indian design of confining China. In short induction of nuclear Submarine would be taken as Indian nuclear sea pollution.

Basit said Pakistan would take all measures to ensure strategic balance in the region. The induction of nuclear submarine is really upset the balance of power in the region. India has fully supported by US and Russia against China. Russian leadership has forgotten that India who always been patted by her prior to its disintegration has joined American block. The Indian race of naval expansion and build up is to threaten, blocking and stifle Pakistani sea lanes, encirclement of China and dominant Indian Ocean. India has become a big threat in general to the region and particularly to Pakistan’s security and survival. On the other hand US and its Western allies always posed that Pakistan is more prone to internal threat rather than external. US and India knows that Pakistan are real time tested friends of the region and cannot move away from each other. Indian is common enemy and always planned to create insurgency in Pakistan and China. Raw with the help of her master agency CIA staged a plot of sabotaging Beijing peace through Dalai Lama movement. In short, world community should ask India to abide by the international laws and resolve territorial disputes for permanent regional peace bilaterally. Zaheerul Hassan

Is Pakistan's Taliban Chief Dead?

American and Pakistani officials say it looked more and more likely that the man was Baitullah Mehsud, who had a $5-million bounty on his head. Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, told reporters in Islamabad on Friday Aug. 7 that, "According to my intelligence information, the news is correct. We are trying to get on the ground verification to be 100% sure. But according to my information, he has been taken out." Local Pakistani media, citing "tribal sources" in South Waziristan,�are reporting that Mehsud's funeral prayers had been held and that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's shura, or council, was meeting today to choose Mehsud's successor. (See pictures of the battle against the Taliban.)

It may be days, or weeks, before confirmation is obtained. Hellfire strikes often obliterate targets, leaving little for investigators to work with. Pakistani officials are reportedly trying to collect material evidence, but U.S. intelligence officials will also be paying close attention to chatter on the Taliban's communication channels. "Taking Mehsud off the battlefield would be a major victory," says a U.S. counterterrorism official. "He has American blood on his hands with attacks on our forces in Afghanistan. This would also affirm the effectiveness of our government's counterterrorism policies." (Read "Pakistan Takes On Taliban Leader Mehsud.")

If confirmed, Mehsud's death would bring to a dramatic end a short but terrifying career. Over the past two years, Mehsud, who is believed to be about 35, emerged from near-obscurity to claim a place in a hall of infamy along with the Saudi Osama bin Laden, the Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahiri of al-Qaeda (who are still at large) and the Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed while leading the radical insurgency in Iraq. Cagey, dogged and charismatic, Mehsud had a knack for uniting disparate factions around a common cause; he transformed the badlands of South Waziristan into the most important redoubt for the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda. He denied involvement in the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, but he was not unhappy about it: the Pakistani government produced an alleged message from him congratulating the perpetrators: "Fantastic job. Very brave boys, the ones who killed her."

With a reported 20,000 militants at his command, Mehsud was believed to have been the architect of the 2008 bombing of Islamabad's Marriott Hotel, the mastermind behind a terrorist cell uncovered in Barcelona that same year and the dispatcher of numerous suicide bombers in South Asia. Earlier this year, he threatened a massive terrorist attack on Washington that would "amaze everyone in the world." (Read "Islamabad After the Marriott Bombing: The Baghdad Effect.")

An uneducated Pashtun tribesman from a modest clan, Mehsud reportedly came from a family that made their living driving trucks. Though given to boasting about his grand plans for inflicting mass murder, Mehsud was also cautious. He shunned photographers — there are no definitive portraits — traveled in convoys protected by armed guards and hopped between safe houses. Despite his bellicose rhetoric, Mehsud was also described as baby-faced and jocular in person.

As a teen, Mehsud served as a Taliban fighter against the Soviets in the battle for Afghanistan, but first rose to prominence as a supporter of Abdullah Mehsud (no relation), a one-legged militant imprisoned at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, soon after the 9/11 terror attacks. Baitullah Mehsud quickly leapfrogged his boss, and his ascension up the jihadi ladder was made apparent in 2005, when — swathed in a black cloth to shield his face — he negotiated the public signing of a ceasefire agreement with the Pakistani government. (Read "Why Pakistan Balks at the U.S. Afghanistan Offensive.")

Indeed, under the cover afforded by the agreement, Mehsud was once touted by a Pakistani Army official as a "good Taliban." He used that goodwill to quickly tighten his grip on Waziristan, converting the rugged region into a haven where militant groups could freely operate camps and training facilities. The assassination of Bhutto and subsequent attacks attributed to Mehsud turned him into a prime target of the Pakistani government. In June 2009, the governor of the North-West Frontier Province denounced Mehsud as "the root cause of all evils" as the army launched a "full-fledged" military operation to eliminate the Taliban leader. CIA-operated drones also went to work, attacking sites associated with Mehsud. On Wednesday, one of their missiles may have found its mark.