The death of a Pakistani Taliban leader in a recent drone strike has brought little joy to Pakistan. Source: AAP
THE Pakistani Taliban leader killed in a recent US drone strike was behind hotel bombings, assaults on political rallies, beheadings of policemen and suicide attacks on soldiers. But his death elicited little joy in the country where he wreaked most of his havoc and instead stirred widespread anger and suspicion.
At the time of Friday's strike targeting Hakimullah Mehsud, the Pakistani government was engaged in efforts to negotiate a peace deal with militants.
Frustrated at years of military campaigns that have failed to end the bloodshed, many Pakistanis had high hopes for this latest peace effort and blame the US for fouling it up.
Mehsud "should have been given the chance to negotiate, and now the consequences have to be borne by Pakistan, not the US", said Syed Ahmed, a small business owner in the southern port city of Karachi.
Also contributing to the anger are fears of a bloody backlash, plus a web of complex conspiracy theories, including the idea that militants such as Mehsud are American or Indian pawns intent on weakening Pakistan.
For years, Pakistan has been fighting militants in the tribal areas that border neighbouring Afghanistan, with thousands of civilians and security forces dying in bombings and shootings at the hands of militants.
Mehsud, who had a reputation as an especially ruthless warrior, was the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, as it calls itself. The TTP is an umbrella group encompassing militant organisations across the tribal areas. It has called for the overthrow of the Pakistani government, the implementation of hard-line Islamic law and an end to cooperation with the Americans in Afghanistan.
In many ways, people across Pakistan are echoing what they are hearing from politicians and top government officials. During a news conference on Saturday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan lashed out repeatedly at the US, which he said was trying to scuttle peace talks.
There is also suspicion that the US and neighbouring India - a longtime enemy - are directly promoting and funding militants as a way to weaken the country. In the eastern city of Lahore, where that feeling is especially prevalent, lawyer Masood Wattoo blamed the US and India for a recent string of bombings in the northwest, including a suicide attack on a church full of worshippers.
"It was the handiwork of America and India," he said.
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