The Pakistani Taliban have appointed a new chief, militants said Saturday, selecting a top commander known for his ruthless efficiency in staging attacks, including a major hotel bombing and a deadly assault against the Sri Lankan cricket team.
The appointment of 28-year-old Hakimullah Mehsud could herald an increase in attacks as the group tries to prove it is still intact and operational, analysts say. It comes after weeks of speculation and reported infighting among Taliban commanders to replace Baitullah Mehsud, the group’s former chief who was reportedly killed in an Aug. 5 CIA missile strike in northwestern Pakistan.
via The Associated Press: Pakistani Taliban choose new chief.
The Long War Journal has an interesting slideshow with the photos and names of the main Taliban commanders.
FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2008 file photo, Pakistani Taliban deputy Hakimullah Mehsud is seen in Orakzai tribal region of Pakistan. Mehsud has been appointed the new head of the militant group, media reports said Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, weeks after Washington and Islamabad said the militants' chief, Baitullah Mehsud, was almost certainly killed by a recent missile strike. (AP Photo/Ishtiaq Mehsud, File)
Anyway, BBC says that the new Taliban leader is calledZulfiqar Mehsyd, and it includes his photo:
Zulfiqar Mehsud is believed to be in his late 20s
We can conclude then by saying that this guy’s the new Taliban leader and that his surname is Mehsud, whether he is “Hackimullah” or “Zulfiqar”. It’s one of the few Taliban who are smiling, but that doesn’t mean he is “moderate”, “affable” or “sympathetic”. This last note is for those who want to speak with the moderate Talibans…. (nobody really knows who those are: do they only cut your finger if you steal something, instead of cutting all your hand?) 
Last but not least, it seems Baitullah Mehsud was killed while having a leg massage. Isn’t that laughable?
Goodie, just need a picture and we’ll know who to kill.
For me the best thing was that about the leg massage…
[...] claiming that would be “too difficult”. They are also “worried” about Hakimullah’s appointment as Taliban’s chief, because he is “very cruel”. Meanwhile, US has accused [...]
[...] this video he appears with Hakimullah Mehsud, someone described as much more cruel and aggressive than Baitullah Mehsud, the Taliban leader whose death this suicide attacker was supposedly avenging. It seems that [...]