SLAMMING THE report of his death, the new leader of the Taliban in Pakistan Hakimullah Mehsud appeared before reporters in Sararogha area of the tribal area of Pakistan on Monday, October 5. The Taliban leader also vowed to strike back at Pakistan and the US for the increasing number of drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas and the border region with Afghanistan.

His appearance ended the speculation that he was killed in drone attack by the US forces in the lawless tribal region of Pakistan. His brother and predecessor Baitullah Mehsud was killed in missile attack some weeks ago in the border areas of Pakistan. This conference was Hakimullah's first since he won control of the militants.

Mehsud spoke to a small group of reporters as he sat on a blanket on the ground in the shade of a tree, flanked by guards carrying heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

He said, "Right from the beginning we want to make this clear, that America has illegally captured Afghanistan, and this is our top priority to.. remove America from the soil of Afghanistan, and get rid of these people from the Afghan nation. We were against the Americans and NATO forces right from the beginning. But our (referring to Pakistan's) army has left us with no choice...we don't want to fight against the Pakistan army, our aim is to remove the Americans from this region and to fight with the American troops."

A news agency has reported that he spoke to reporters on the condition that his comments should not be published until they left the area on Monday, out of concern that their use of satellite phones to file the story could lead the Pakistani forces to him.

Hakimullah Mehsud termed his policy a clear one and vowed to impose Islamic system in Pakistan.

He said, "My policy is very clear and history will prove this, the first thing is that we should bring humility to the Pakistani nation, rid it of slavery and bring it to humanity. Within Pakistan we would finish this system (referring to democracy), bring the Islamic system and give justice to Muslims. This is our aim."

Last month, Mehsud's brother, Kalimullah, was killed in an offensive against the Taliban leadership. Unmanned drones carried out more than 70 missile strikes in north-western Pakistan over the last year in a covert program, killing several top militant commanders along with their sympathisers and civilians. Mehsud said his forces were ready for such an attack.

On the other hand, US officials have said they are pondering on a strategy of intensified drone attacks combined with deployment of special operations forces against Al-Qaeda and Taliban targets on the Pakistan side of the border, part of an alternative to sending more troops to Afghanistan in what is becoming an increasingly unpopular war.