In a statement released to jihadist forums on Nov. 10, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) offered its condolences for the death of Hakeemullah Mehsud, the former emir of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan. Hakeemullah was killed by the US in a drone strike in North Waziristan on Nov. 1.
In its statement, obtained and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, AQAP said it received the news of Hakeemullah’s death “with great sadness.” The statement, which described Hakeemullah as a “leader, mujahid, and hero,” praised him and “his brothers from the tribes of Waziristan” for playing “a historic role in defense and jihad against the American Crusader campaign on Afghanistan.”
In addition, the statement lauded Hakeemullah and the Pakistani Taliban for providing haven to foreign fighters.
The AQAP message also addressed Pakistani Muslims, who were urged to “continue in the uprising against the blatant American transgression against the sovereignty of the lands of the Muslims.”
“The march of jihad will continue – Allah permitting – until the disbelievers are expelled from Muslim countries and Islam is established on the earth,” AQAP further declared.
On Nov. 9, the Pakistani Taliban threatened to avenge the death of Hakeemullah Mehsud, in a statement released by its official media outlet, Umar Media.
