Qari Hussain
Encyclopedia
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
.
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 is 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" have 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.
Hussain claimed responsibility for the 2010 Times Square car bomb attempt in an as of yet unverified audiotape that was posted on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan News Channel on the website YouTube
. Authorities in Pakistan believe that Faisal Shahzad
, the Pakistani-American who admitted to planting the Times Square car bomb, was introduced to Hussain via Mohammad Rehan, and subsequently received explosives training before he returned to the United States.
On October 15, 2010, several reports came out indicating that Qari Hussain may have been killed in an American drone strike. Geo TV
said that he and five Turks were killed on October 2 in the Dattakhel area. The Press Trust of India
stated that he and three others were killed on October 7 outside of Miranshah in Jungle Khel. While Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq denied these reports were true, Qari Hussein has yet to contact media to confirm his survival as of 2011. On October 26, a senior Taliban operative as well as a counter terrorism expert contacted the Asia Times confirming Mehsud's death, and that he was killed by the October 7th drone strike.
Pashto language
Pashto , known as Afghani in Persian and Pathani in Punjabi , is the native language of the indigenous Pashtun people or Afghan people who are found primarily between an area south of the Amu Darya in Afghanistan and...
/Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: قارى حسین احمد) (died October 7, 2010) was a top lieutenant in the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , alternatively referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, is an umbrella organization of various Islamist militant groups based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border in Pakistan. Most, but not all, Pakistani Taliban groups coalesce under the TTP...
(TTP) and the organizer of the group's suicide bombing squads. He was a cousin of Hakimullah Mehsud
Hakimullah Mehsud
Hakimullah Mehsud , born c. 1979 as Jamshed Mehsud and also known as Zulfiqar Mehsud , is the amir of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan...
.
Operations
Hussain ran a training camp for suicide bombers in South WaziristanSouth Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
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
Federally Administered Tribal Areas
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas are a semi-autonomous tribal region in the northwest of Pakistan, lying between the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and the neighboring country of Afghanistan. The FATA comprise seven Agencies and six FRs...
. 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
Baitullah Mehsud
Baitullah Mehsud was a leading militant in Waziristan, Pakistan, and the leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan . He formed the TTP from an alliance of about five militant groups in December 2007. He is thought by U.S...
, 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
Khyber agency
Khyber is a tribal area in the FATA region of Pakistan. It is one of the eight tribal areas, better known as agencies in Pakistan. It ranges from the Tirah valley down to Peshawar...
, which killed guests and family members and had been undertaken without Mehsud's consent. However, Hussain is 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
23 June 2009 Makeen airstrike
23 June 2009 Makeen airstrike was an attack launched by United States drones on a funeral procession in the city of Makeen in South Waziristan, Pakistan. The attack targeted a funeral procession of militants killed earlier in the day in a prior similar strike by drones...
at Makeen
Makeen
Makeen or Makin, is a small town in South Waziristan, Pakistan, located on the Y-junction between Sararogha and Wana, just south of Razmak in North Waziristan. It is mainly populated by members of the Mehsud tribe. The Pakistani military has called it "the nerve center" of the Pakistani Taliban...
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
Press Trust of India
Press Trust of India is the largest news agency in India. It is headquartered in Delhi and is a nonprofit cooperative among more than 450 Indian newspapers and has a staff of about 2,000 writers spread across 150 offices nationwide...
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
The News International
The News International , published in tabloid size, is the largest English language newspaper in Pakistan. The News has an ABC certified circulation of 140,000. It is published from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad...
later reported that "top Pakistani and US sources" have confirmed Hussain's death in the same drone strike against Mehsud. However, he once again appeared in an interview, speaking with Rediff.com
Rediff.com
Rediff.com India is a news, information, entertainment, and shopping portal. It was founded in 1996 as "Rediff On The NeT" and is headquartered in Mumbai, India with offices in New Delhi and New York City, USA....
in March 2010, and again denying Mehsud's death.
Hussain claimed responsibility for the 2010 Times Square car bomb attempt in an as of yet unverified audiotape that was posted on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan News Channel on the website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. Authorities in Pakistan believe that Faisal Shahzad
Faisal Shahzad
Faisal Shahzad is a Pakistani American who attempted the May 1, 2010, Times Square car bombing. On , 2010, in Federal District Court in Manhattan he confessed to 10 counts arising from the bombing attempt...
, the Pakistani-American who admitted to planting the Times Square car bomb, was introduced to Hussain via Mohammad Rehan, and subsequently received explosives training before he returned to the United States.
On October 15, 2010, several reports came out indicating that Qari Hussain may have been killed in an American drone strike. Geo TV
Geo TV
Geo TV or Geo Television is a Pakistani television network, founded by Mr. Mir Shakil ur Rehman in May 2002 and owned by Independent Media Corporation. The channel began test transmission on 14 August 2002, with regular transmission beginning 1 October 2002...
said that he and five Turks were killed on October 2 in the Dattakhel area. The Press Trust of India
Press Trust of India
Press Trust of India is the largest news agency in India. It is headquartered in Delhi and is a nonprofit cooperative among more than 450 Indian newspapers and has a staff of about 2,000 writers spread across 150 offices nationwide...
stated that he and three others were killed on October 7 outside of Miranshah in Jungle Khel. While Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq denied these reports were true, Qari Hussein has yet to contact media to confirm his survival as of 2011. On October 26, a senior Taliban operative as well as a counter terrorism expert contacted the Asia Times confirming Mehsud's death, and that he was killed by the October 7th drone strike.