Mehsud emerged as a prominent commander within the Pakistani Taliban after the death of senior leaders in the 2010s.[1] He reportedly served as a spokesman for the Hakimullah Mehsud faction of the TTP and was considered one of the organization's most active figures, claiming responsibility for numerous attacks.[1] He was also said to have attempted to unify splinter groups within the TTP, which had fractured into several factions.[1]
At various points, Pakistani authorities listed him as a wanted militant for his alleged involvement in terror attacks inside Pakistan, including claims of responsibility for attacks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and a deadly bus attack in Karachi.[1] Some reports noted that he had been detained by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2016 and subsequently released after about 14 months in custody.[1]