DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — The Pakistani Taliban has denied reports that their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, died from injuries sustained in a U.S. drone strike in mid-January.
A close aide to Mehsud told The Associated Press on Monday that the militant chief was “doing well” and that the group would try to provide proof that he was alive in the next day or two.
The aide spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government retribution.
Pakistani officials said Sunday that they were investigating whether Mehsud was dead after state television reported that he was buried in Pakistan’s Orakzai tribal region.
