Pakistani Taliban chief confirmed to be dead: TV

Pakistani officials and Taliban both confirmed the death of the Pakistani Taliban chief Haki-mullah Mehsud. Local TV channels reported Tuesday that government officials confirmed that he was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month.

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2009 file photo,  Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud  arrives to meet with media in Sararogha of  Pakistani tribal area of South Waziristan  along the Afghanistan border. The Pakistani Taliban said Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 that  there is no need to release proof that the group's leader is alive to refute reports  that he died from injuries sustained in a  U.S. drone strike in mid-January. (AP Photo/Ishtiaq Mehsud, File)

Taliban said their leader died a week ago due to neck injury on the way for treatment. However, the official Taliban spokesman Alam Tariq has not yet made a statement.

The country's state TV reported that he was killed last week, but Pakistani army said his death was not confirmed, and they were still investigating it. Haki-mullah was named new chief after the death of Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a drone strike in August 2009.