ISLAMABAD: The leader of the Pakistani Taliban appeared in a video Thursday to prove he was still alive, a week after an apparent attempt to assassinate him with an airstrike in Afghanistan provoked the most serious clash between the neighbors in decades.
The airstrike on October 9 hit an armored Toyota Land Cruiser believed to be carrying Noor Wali Mehsud in the Afghan capital, Kabul, according to Pakistani security officials.
After days of deadly violence, an uneasy ceasefire took hold on Wednesday. But with confirmation that Mehsud is still alive, Pakistan’s main grievance against its neighbor endures: Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of sheltering a militant leader and his senior lieutenants it blames for directing near-daily attacks in Pakistan.
Mehsud said in the video that he was appearing to refute reports of his death. Pakistani security officials and militants had previously assessed that he had probably survived.
“Jihad brings nations freedom and dignity; otherwise they remain slaves,” Mehsud said.
