Prove Baitullah Mehsud is alive: Pakistan

Pakistan’s government today demanded that Taliban commanders release a video to substantiate their claim that notorious warlord Baitullah Mehsud survived a US drone attack.

Pakistan’s government on Tuesday demanded that Taliban commanders release a video to substantiate their claim that notorious warlord Baitullah Mehsud survived a US drone attack.

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Hakimullah Mehsud, a top Taliban commander and deputy to Baitullah Mehsud, on Monday insisted that the warlord was alive and also denied reports of a deadly shooting between contenders for his succession.

“When Hakimullah can talk to Baitullah, he can also bring his video tape to contradict my claims that the Taliban chieftain is dead,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters outside Parliament.

Although Pakistani and US officials believe Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone attack in South Waziristan with his wife on Wednesday, confusion has reigned and both governments have stopped short of confirming his death.

Hakimullah told AFP that Baitullah was “a bit sick.” “Amir sahib (Baitullah) is alive. He is healthy and he will come before the media soon. There is no succession,” he said.