Washington: Pentagon on Wednesday said there is
a 90 per cent certainty that Pakistan Taliban leader Baitullah
Mehsud is dead and it is operating under the presumption that
the top militant is no more and is no longer a threat to the
people of the region.
Pentagon spokesman Jeoff Morrell said the Taliban has
not been able to provide any evidence contrary to this
viewpoint.
"We are operating under the assumption-- and it`s not
just an assumption. Obviously, we have intelligence that would
lead us to believe that there is a 90 per cent certainty that
he is no longer living," Morrell told reporters.
"There is a 90 percent certainty at this point that,
indeed, Baitullah Mehsud has met his demise," he said.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates like others in the
government is operating under the assumption at this point
that, indeed, he is no longer a threat to the Pakistani
people, Morrell said in response to a question.
When referred to the statements coming from Taliban
leaders that Baitullah Mehsud is alive, Morrell said: "If they
really wanted to convince anybody that Baitullah Mehsud was
still alive, they would probably do as many people do, which
is offer some sort of proof of life, but I don`t think that
they`ve been -- they are in a position to do so."
Bureau Report
