The man behind the attack on teenage activist Malala Yousafzai has been chosen as the group's new leader in Pakistan.
The appointment of Fazlullah comes less than a week since the US killed former chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike.
The Taliban's leadership council, or shura, made the decision at an undisclosed location in the North Waziristan tribal area after days of deliberation, the local commander revealed.
The new leader has served as the Pakistani Taliban's leader in the north-west Swat Valley but is believed to be hiding in neighbouring Afghanistan.
He rose to prominence through radio broadcasts demanding the imposition of a harsh brand of Islam, earning him the nickname "Mullah Radio".
Malala receiving an honorary degree from Edinburgh University last month Fazlullah's group began to infiltrate the valley in 2007 and spread fear among residents by forcing men to grow beards, preventing women from going to the market and blowing up schools.
A military offensive in 2009 pushed the group out of the valley.
Fazlullah and his group carried out the attack on teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head and neck while returning home on a school bus in October 2012.
She was attacked for speaking out against the Taliban over its interpretation of Islam, which limits girls' access to education.
Hakimullah Mehsud was killed last week Fazlullah is the first leader of the Pakistani Taliban not to come from the Mehsud tribe based in the South Waziristan tribal area.
Hakimullah Mehsud was killed on Friday just as he was entering his compound in a village in North Waziristan.
Although Mehsud was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Pakistani civilians and security forces, his death outraged Pakistani officials, who accused the US of sabotaging the government's attempt to strike a peace deal with the militants.
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