Islamabad, November 2
The Pakistan Taliban today put on hold a decision to make Khan Syed, alias Sajna, its new chief after the killing of warlord Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike when several militant commanders opposed the move.

The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) named Shehryar Mehsud as the caretaker chief and its "shura" (council) will meet again in the next few days to decide on a new leader, Taliban sources said.

The sources said the shura had initially agreed on Sajna's name during a meeting in South Waziristan but later withheld the decision due to opposition from commanders belonging to the Nuristan Shura.

"So it was decided to meet again possibly tomorrow to decide a new leader," a source said. Even as Mehsud and five other militants killed with him in yesterday's drone strike were buried at undisclosed locations in North Waziristan, the Taliban vowed to carry out "unprecedented" retaliatory attacks.

The government beefed up security across Pakistan in the wake of Mehsud's killing. "All precautions have been taken," Interior Ministry spokesperson Omar Hameed Khan said.

Security was increased at all sensitive government and military installations, public places and airports, and more policemen could be seen on the streets.

Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq confirmed Mehsud's death in the drone strike in the Danday Darpakhel area and pledged that the group would continue its activities.

Enraged by the killing of Mehsud, the Taliban vowed to take revenge for the drone attack in which the militant group alleged the Pakistani government was involved.