US cannot confirm Wali-ur-Rehman Dead?
The United States of America today announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the location of Wali Ur Rehman, a Taliban deputy commander. Wali-ur-Rehman’s death cannot be confirmed by the US government.
The Taliban leader reportedly was killed by Wednesday’s US drone strike.
Waliur Rehman was the deputy chief of the TTP and its commander-in-charge for South Waziristan.
The Pakistani Taliban are a separate entity allied to the Afghan Taliban and popularly know as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The notorious group have reportedly launched deadly attacks against the Pakistani military and civilians.
How does the rewards program work? Are payouts or claims kept confidential?
According to the US State Department, anyone who provides reliable and actionable information that helps prevent or favorably resolve acts of international terrorism against the U.S. anywhere in the world potentially may be eligible for an RFJ reward.
Also, anyone who provides information that leads to the identification or location of a key leader in an international terrorist organization may be eligible for a reward.
The State Department says the rewards may also be paid for information about an individual or organization that is trafficking drugs to finance acts of international terrorism or to raise money to sustain or support a terrorist organization.
Since its inception, the Rewards for Justice program has paid more than $100 million to more than 70 people who provided information that prevented international terrorist attacks or helped bring to justice those involved in such acts.
In September 2010, US designated Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Two senior TTP leaders, Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali Ur Rehman, were designated also as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under E.O. 13224.
The Rewards for Justice Program has announced a five million dollar reward for any information leading to the arrest of Mehsud or Rehman.
TTP is a Pakistan-based terrorist organization that has claimed responsibility for many terrorist acts against Pakistani and U.S. interests.
TTP has carried out notable attacks against U.S. interests under Mehsud and Rehman’s leadership as well. For example, the attacks include a December 2009 suicide attack on a U.S. military base in Khowst, Afghanistan, which killed seven U.S. citizens, and an April 2010 suicide bombing against the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which killed six Pakistani citizens.
