Pro-Taliban militant leader blows himself up to avoid arrest

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6913013.stm

Taleban commander 'kills himself'

An Islamic militant leader, wanted for kidnapping two Chinese engineers in Pakistan in 2004, has blown himself up to avoid arrest, Pakistan police say.

Abdullah Mehsud, who spent 25 months in custody at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, died in south-western Balochistan province, a police spokesman said.

Mehsud, whose real name was Noor Alam, was a Pashtun, the same ethnic group as the Taleban of Afghanistan.

He fought for the Taleban against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.

Pakistan interior ministry spokesman Javed Cheema told the AFP news agency that Mehsud blew himself up with a hand grenade after soldiers raided a hideout in Zhob district of south-western Balochistan.

"Abdullah Mehsud blew himself up with a grenade and died when security forces raided his hideout. Three of his accomplices were arrested," he said.

A local police official Atta Mohammed told the Associated Press news agency that no military personnel were wounded by the explosion.

Mehsud was wanted for kidnapping two Chinese engineers, one of whom was killed, in South Waziristan in 2004.

Analysts say the kidnapping was an attempt to secure the release of al-Qaeda militants held during army operations in South Waziristan.

Since his return from Guantanamo Bay, Mehsud became a hero to anti-US fighters active in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Note: while the "hero" may have been "encountered", it still showed his true colours!

[mawilson 2,133]

Such a sad and tragic death!

[almaty 19]

a chopf##k....

[Ban Hammer 14,690]

Such a sad and tragic death!

let's see if he leads by example

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Such a sad and tragic death!

let's see if he leads by example

Based on the exerpt from the article, highly likely--as it is a rather strong suggestion that he (and his cohorts) were "encountered"--and you're right, it is indeed a good example for the AQ and Taliban militants to follow.

...

"Abdullah Mehsud blew himself up with a grenade and died when security forces raided his hideout. Three of his accomplices were arrested," he said.

A local police official Atta Mohammed told the Associated Press news agency that no military personnel were wounded by the explosion.

...

[GaryC 7]

Abdullah Mehsud, who spent 25 months in custody at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, died in south-western Balochistan province, a police spokesman said.

I see that we let him go. Must have been one of those "innocent" men "unfairly" caught up in the "out of control" witch hunt for terrorists.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Abdullah Mehsud, who spent 25 months in custody at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, died in south-western Balochistan province, a police spokesman said.

I see that we let him go. Must have been one of those "innocent" men "unfairly" caught up in the "out of control" witch hunt for terrorists.

They should have "encountered" him at Gitmo "attempting to escape"; but he got his just desserts by being "encountered" by those who had seeded and fertilised his organisation--almost poetic justice.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The 'encounter' strikes again

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Woot!!! Sweet justice!

[hmm1 0]

Woot!!! Sweet justice!

Too bad we can't encounter more of them on a basis such as this...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Woot!!! Sweet justice!

Too bad we can't encounter more of them on a basis such as this...

Well,...

• Pakistan's military and police have long (as in since 1951 if not 1947 or earlier) arrogated themselves licence to "encounter"
  
• Afghanistan's forces (including erstwhile Northern Alliance) aren't exactly strangers to it
  

Edited July 25, 2007 by CherryXS