US: ‘Slain’ Pakistani Militant Leader Probably Still Alive
Much-Hyped Friday Drone Strike Likely Didn't Kill Ilyas Kashmiri, Officials Believe
On Friday, US drones attacked a home in South Waziristan Agency, killing seven people. Over the weekend officials exultantly announced that among the slain was Ilyas Kashmiri, a militant leader accused of involvement in the Mumbai attacks and who US officials suggested might be in line to replace Osama Bin Laden.
Confirmation came quick, with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik saying he was “100% certain” that Kashmiri was dead. It was the second time Kashmiri was confirmed killed by a US drone, the previous time in 2009. This time the confidence has faded much more quickly.
That’s because US officials are now saying that they had never found any confirmation of Kashmiri’s death and that “more likely than not” he was still alive. Officials also said that it “wouldn’t be the first time” they mistakenly reported a death.
Lost in all of this is a question which, as usual, seems destined to go unanswered. When US missiles pounded what was apparently not Ilyas Kashmiri, and killed seven people who were apparently not him, who exactly did they kill?
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skulz fontaine
June 7th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
"They" killed him or, maybe not. Certain puts the whole Usama bin Ladin spectacle into question. I mean, there's NO proof. There is the Obama's say so. That would mean about squat…
Zia Ahad
June 7th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Wonder why the US now feels a need to question its own claims? Could it be because it was running out of reasons for continuing the war and occupation in Afghanistan? After all, OBL is dead, isn't he?Or, does its military establishment need to further test drone attacks? Pity, how the misguided missiles never stray into Zardari's den: now, Pakistanis might have found that welcoming!
ghouri
June 8th, 2011 at 1:34 am
How you will acess as there is no journalists allowed or any reliable source. This is bling killing nothing more. Americans will kill but at appropriate time as these assets belong to america and these cards will be used like Osama.
Once you lie will have to lie again and again. Our interior minister is more american than americans and he will protect american interest and destory their native country.
This is ppp story.
thedissenter
June 8th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Isn't this what they always do? From Osama bin Laden to the 9/11 hijackers, they have all turned up alive and well long after being declared dead by the US. The lies are there for all too see, if only people were paying attention to see it.
John Uebersax
June 8th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
They just got the initial press release wrong. It was supposed to say that the strike "killed seven SUSPECTED Ilyas Kashmiri's".