The New Head Of The Pakistani Taliban Is The Man Who Ordered The Assassination Of Malala Yousafzai

Today, they named his replacement - Mullah Fazlullah - the ruthless warlord of a Taliban offshoot who is best known for ordering the assassination of Malala Yousafzai.

Malala, a 15-year-old outspoken critic of the Taliban's tactics in her native Swat Valley in Pakistan, was shot in the head when a gunman boarded her school bus last year.

But she survived, made a full recovery, and has become a transformative figure for human rights and access to education.

That Fazlullah was picked to lead the Taliban may represent a couple of things. Just as Malala is a hero to those who would like to see reform in Pakistan, Fazlulla is a hero to the hardliners holding the region back.

It also, at least for now, kills any hopes of the peace talks Mehsud was trying to foster before his death.

A Taliban spokesman reportedly told the BBC that they will reject peace talks and vowed revenge for Mehsud's death.