South Asia Center Director Shuja Nawaz is quoted by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on who will follow Hakimullah Mehsud as leader of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan:

Shuja Nawaz, director of the South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, sees Said as the most viable candidate for the leadership.

“Going back to someone who is from South Waziristan and who belongs to the Mehsud tribe may clear difficulties with some of the TTP’s far-flung operations, which are under local commanders,” he says. “Somebody who is prepared to talk without preconditions would also be preferred.”