Pakistan's Minister of Interior Rehman Malik today said the Taliban chief Hakeemullah Mehsud was dead. It is the first time Pakistani authorities made clear the militant chief is dead. Local media yesterday reported that Mehsud died from wounds inflicted in a U.S. drone strike in January. The report said the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan leader died a week ago due to neck injury on the way from eastern city Multan to south port city of Karachi for treatment. However, the official Taliban spokesman Alam Tariq has not responded to the report. Hakeemullah Mehsud has led the militant group since his predecessor Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan in August 2009. <br/>