ISLAMABAD (AA) – Fearing possible attacks, the Pakistani government has placed security forces on high alert following the killing of top Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud in a suspected US drone attack.
"Security forces have been placed on high alert in order to avert any untoward incident (following the death of Mehsud)," Omer Hameed, a spokesman of the Interior Ministry, told Anadolu Agency on Saturday.
He said that vacations of the security personnel across the country have been suspended for an indefinite period.
Orders have also been issued for summoning security personnel from leave.
"All possible measures are being taken to avert any untoward incident ," Hameed said.
The Interior Ministry has advised foreign diplomats in the country to restrict their movement to avert any possible militant attacks.
The Pakistan Taliban on Saturday confirmed the death of Mehsud, leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella of all Taliban groups in Pakistan, in a suspected US drone attack in North Waziristan on Friday.
The TTP leader was laid to rest on Friday night at an unknown place in North Waziristan, Taliban sources told AA.
Pamphlets were distributed in North Waziristan on Saturday by Taliban militants, vowing to avenge Mehsud's death.
Friday's killing has aborted government plans to initiate negotiations with the Taliban to bring an end to a decade-long homegrown militancy that has killed over 40,000 Pakistanis, including 4,000 security personnel.
The government, which had planned to send a three-member delegation to meet Taliban leaders in North Waziristan to invite them for the talks, decided to postpone the visit indefinitely.
Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan earlier told a local TV channel that Friday’s drone attack was aimed at sabotaging the government's peace efforts.
"No doubt, the (peace) process has been derailed after this incident," Hameed, the interior ministry spokesman, said.
"Now, consultations are on how to bring the derailed process back on track," he said.
Taliban have had the history of sever reaction to the killing of top leaders in recent years.
Suicide bombers rocked various military and government installations following the death of TTP founder Baitullah Mehsud in 2009, killing dozens of security personnel.
Intelligence agencies fear similar reaction to the death of Mehsud, interior ministry sources say.
By Aamir Latif
