Qari Hussain
| Qari Hussain Ahmad Mehsud قارى حسین احمد | |
|---|---|
Qari Hussain Mehsud
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| Born | Kokai, near Spinkai Raghzai, South Waziristan |
| Allegiance | Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan |
| Years of service | 2000s to October 2010 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations | Hakimullah Mehsud (cousin, deceased) |
Qari Hussain Ahmad Mehsud (Pashto/Urdu: قارى حسین احمد) (died October 7, 2010) was a top lieutenant in the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the organizer of the group's suicide bombing squads. He was a cousin of Hakimullah Mehsud.
Hussain ran a training camp for suicide bombers in South Waziristan and had been active in violent acts against the Pakistani government. In May 2007 he directed a campaign of attacks in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The attacks included targeted killings of tribal elders and political agents, and attacks on police which resulted in many civilian deaths.
The violent nature of the attacks almost led to a split with Baitullah Mehsud, who at the time was amir of the TTP. On June 1, 2007, Mehsud captured 17 of Hussain's men and threatened to kill them in retaliation for a particularly brutal attack upon the residence of Pir Amiruddin Shah, the Political Agent of Khyber Agency, which killed guests and family members and had been undertaken without Mehsud's consent. However, Hussain was still a commander of Taliban forces.
Hussain was reported dead after his home was destroyed in January 2008, but in May 2008 appeared in front of Pakistani media to deny the reports. He was later reported killed in a 23 June 2009 airstrike at Makeen in South Waziristan, but then phoned reporters to prove he was alive. A few days after the airstrike, the Pakistan government announced a 10 million rupee reward for the killing or capture of Hussain, among other Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan commanders. On November 2, 2009 the reward was increased to 50 million rupees ($600,000)
A report by the Press Trust of India cited sources affirming that Hussain was killed on January 14, 2010, in the American drone airstrike in North Waziristan that reportedly killed Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud; however, Hussain apparently spoke with local media by telephone to deny Mehsud's death.The News International later reported that "top Pakistani and US sources" confirmed Hussain's death in the same drone strike against Mehsud. However, he once again appeared in an interview, speaking with Rediff.com in March 2010, and again denying Mehsud's death.
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