Pakistani Taliban: No need to prove leader alive

MIR ALI, Pakistan — The Pakistani Taliban said Tuesday 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.

The comments by Pakistani Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq — a reversal from remarks the day before — could fuel speculation that militant chief Hakimullah Mehsud has in fact died and that the group is stalling to give it time to determine a successor.

The CIA has rained down missiles on northwestern Pakistan after a bomber killed seven of the U.S. intelligence agency's employees late last year in Afghanistan. The barrage continued Tuesday when suspected U.S. drones fired 17 missiles at compounds and bunkers used by militants in the northwest, killing 14 suspected fighters, according to Pakistani intelligence officials.

Mehsud's death would be an important victory against an al-Qaida ally but would be unlikely to deal the organization a killer blow.

Speculation about the Pakistani Taliban leader's fate resembles that when his predecessor was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area. The Pakistani Taliban denied his death for almost three weeks, only admitting it after Mehsud was chosen as his heir.

"We don't feel any need presently to release a video, but whenever we feel a need, we will do so," Pakistani Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location.

The spokesman's comments came a day after a close aide to Mehsud told the AP that the militant group would try to provide proof in a day or two that its leader was alive. The senior Taliban commander spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government retribution.

Tariq called Sunday's Pakistani television report that first announced Mehsud's death propaganda and said the leader "is perfectly well, alive and staying at a safe location."

The state TV report was apparently based on witnesses who said they attended Mehsud's funeral last week in the Orakzai tribal area.

Tariq said Mehsud would not appear before the media to prove he is alive because it could endanger him.

"We are not going to fall prey to this trap and make our leader vulnerable to the spy network, and secondly, the leadership council has restricted the leader from speaking to the media for certain reasons," said Tariq.