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Pakistan Minister: Al-Qaeda Honcho '100%' Dead

Says Ilyas Kashmiri killed in US drone strike Friday

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 6, 2011 6:09 PM CDT

(AP) – Pakistan's interior minister is absolutely positive that wanted al-Qaeda commander Ilyas Kashmiri was killed Friday in a US drone strike. "I can confirm 100 percent that he is dead," Rehman Malik said, though he didn't say how his government knew that or if it had evidence. His statement came just hours after PM Yousuf Raza Gilani told reporters that America had confirmed the death. Malik has previously claimed the deaths of some Taliban leaders, only to be proven wrong later.

Since the US raid that killed bin Laden, missile strikes have picked up after a relative lull this year. Washington says the missiles have killed hundreds of militants, including several top al-Qaeda commanders, since 2008. More than 30 have struck this year, compared to last year's total of about 130.

Supporters of the Pakistani religious party Jamaat-e-Islami attend a rally against drone attacks, in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, June 4, 2011.
Supporters of the Pakistani religious party Jamaat-e-Islami attend a rally against drone attacks, in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, June 4, 2011.   (Fareed Khan)
Pakistani police officer and rescue worker examine the site of a bomb blast in a bus stand in Matani near Peshawar, Pakistan Sunday, June 5, 2011.
Pakistani police officer and rescue worker examine the site of a bomb blast in a bus stand in Matani near Peshawar, Pakistan Sunday, June 5, 2011.   (Mohammad Sajjad)
A supporter of the Pakistani religious party Jamaat-e-Islami shouts during a rally against drone attacks Saturday, June 4, 2011 in Karachi, Pakistan.
A supporter of the Pakistani religious party Jamaat-e-Islami shouts during a rally against drone attacks Saturday, June 4, 2011 in Karachi, Pakistan.   (Fareed Khan)
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