According to Dawn, CNN, the LA Times, and the Nation, the Pakistani Taliban based in the Orakzai tribal agency have confirmed the death of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan(TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud. Maulvi/Malik Noor Jamal, AKA Maulana Toofan, a local Taliban commander in the region previously reported to have taken over as the interim chief, has been nominated as Hakimullah Mehsud's successor.
The official Taliban spokesman continues to say Hakimullah Mehsud is doing well. Meanwhile, government officials are now for the first time confirming Hakimullah Mehsud's death.
This is now the second time that U.S. drones have taken out Pakistan's public enemy #1. However, it may be far from the last time.
Malik/Maulvi(I've seen both seen) Noor Jamal, AKA Maulana Toofan, is said to be just as brutal. One resident of neighboring Kurram agency has described him as a man who "kills humans as one kills chickens". Here's a video of the alleged chief of the TTP;
Toofan became the TTP chief in Orakzai agency following the ascension of his predecessor Hakimullah Mehsud's ascension to overall chief of the TTP. Orakzai agency remains a major stronghold of the Pakistan-focused Taliban in the aftermath of the Pakistani military's operation in South Waziristan late last year. Many militants had fled there following army operations in surrounding regions. It's widely expected that Pakistan's army will mount some sort of operation into Orakzai perhaps in the spring or perhaps after they continue mopping up further north in Bajaur agency, which has recently been the site of fierce skirmishes once again.
It was said that Qari Hussain Mehsud, a top TTP deputy, chief bomb-maker, and the man in-charge of suicide operations and bomber-training/brain-washing, was waiting in the wings to take over for Hakimullah Mehsud. Qari Hussain Mehsud was considered close to al Qaeda and was the first militant to take credit for the Chapman base bombing in Khost, Afghanistan. He is rumored to have been killed by a drone but there has been no confirmation of that. Also thought to have been waiting in the wings was Waliur Rehman, the TTP deputy chief in charge of South Waziristan before the Pakistani military captured the Mehsud-held regions of SWA; his standing might have taken a hit as a result of Operation Rah-e-Najat last year.
As always, I'll try keeping you all up to date.