This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8192893.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pakistan to seek Mehsud DNA proof Pakistan to seek Mehsud DNA proof
(about 2 hours later)
The Pakistani government says it intends to provide conclusive proof that Baitullah Mehsud, leader of the Pakistani Taliban, is dead.The Pakistani government says it intends to provide conclusive proof that Baitullah Mehsud, leader of the Pakistani Taliban, is dead.
"All the credible intelligence I have from that area does finally confirm [his death]," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the BBC."All the credible intelligence I have from that area does finally confirm [his death]," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the BBC.
But the government says it hopes to get DNA evidence to back up its claims.But the government says it hopes to get DNA evidence to back up its claims.
Baitullah Mehsud was reported to have been killed in a US missile strike last week in his remote tribal stronghold.Baitullah Mehsud was reported to have been killed in a US missile strike last week in his remote tribal stronghold.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says that the Pakistani government is growing increasingly confident that it will soon be able to prove that Baitullah Mehsud was killed in the attack. The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Islamabad, says that the Pakistani government is growing increasingly confident that it will soon be able to prove that Baitullah Mehsud was killed in the attack.
In Washington, US National Security Adviser Jim Jones put the level of US certainty that he had been killed "in the 90% category".In Washington, US National Security Adviser Jim Jones put the level of US certainty that he had been killed "in the 90% category".
But Taliban sources have denied these claims, insisting he is still alive.But Taliban sources have denied these claims, insisting he is still alive.
DNA effortsDNA efforts
Mr Malik said the government was working to obtain DNA evidence to establish that the Taliban commander had been killed. See a map of the regionMr Malik said the government was working to obtain DNA evidence to establish that the Taliban commander had been killed. See a map of the region
The government had previously said that it would be extremely difficult to get DNA proof of his death.The government had previously said that it would be extremely difficult to get DNA proof of his death.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
But Mr Malik told the BBC's Urdu service that they did have DNA from Mr Mehsud's brother, who was killed a few months ago.But Mr Malik told the BBC's Urdu service that they did have DNA from Mr Mehsud's brother, who was killed a few months ago.
However, correspondents say that getting hold of Baitullah Mehsud's body in the remote and hostile terrain of South Waziristan could prove to be a stumbling block.However, correspondents say that getting hold of Baitullah Mehsud's body in the remote and hostile terrain of South Waziristan could prove to be a stumbling block.
The Pakistani interior minister has challenged the Taliban to prove its leaders are still alive - something the Taliban commanders dismissed as a ploy to flush them out into the openThe Pakistani interior minister has challenged the Taliban to prove its leaders are still alive - something the Taliban commanders dismissed as a ploy to flush them out into the open
Taliban turmoilTaliban turmoil
On Sunday a key aide of the militant commander said that Baitullah Mehsud was gravely ill and had not been injured in the missile attack.On Sunday a key aide of the militant commander said that Baitullah Mehsud was gravely ill and had not been injured in the missile attack.
It is thought that in making the statement the Taliban are preparing the ground for an announcement that Pakistan's most wanted man is in fact dead, correspondents say.It is thought that in making the statement the Taliban are preparing the ground for an announcement that Pakistan's most wanted man is in fact dead, correspondents say.
But the fate of the entire leadership of the Pakistani Taliban is subject to intense speculation, after days of conflicting reports. But the fate of the entire leadership of the Pakistani Taliban is subject to intense speculation, after days of conflicting reports about its fate.
class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/7163626.stm">Profile: Baitullah Mehsud Mr Malik has said that he believes the next tier of Taliban leadership is in turmoil, after it was reported that up to two potential successors were killed in a gun battle.
Mr Malik said that intelligence sources indicated that the next tier of Taliban leadership was in turmoil after it was reported that up to two potential successors were killed in a gun battle. Senior Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud - who contacted the BBC on Saturday to say his chief was alive and well - was one of those reported to have been killed in the alleged fight over the succession.
"There was a scuffle and there have been some deaths and they are now in disarray and I think with this action their back has been broken," Mr Malik said. However he got in touch with the BBC on Monday to say that he was in fact alive.
"I feel that after killing of Baitullah Mehsud, the whole Tehreek-e-Taliban is in disarray," he said. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
Senior Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud contacted the BBC on Saturday to say his chief was alive and well. Officials have constantly emphasised the difficulty of getting accurate information from the remote region.
But officials in Islamabad later said that Hakimullah was himself one of those killed in the reported fight over succession.
The area is extremely remote and officials have constantly emphasised the difficulty of getting accurate information from the region.
The interior minister said the government was determined to pursue the remaining Taliban leaders encamped in the area.The interior minister said the government was determined to pursue the remaining Taliban leaders encamped in the area.
"We are not going to stop our law enforcement action until the last Talib is flushed out. They have no option except to get killed or surrender," he said."We are not going to stop our law enforcement action until the last Talib is flushed out. They have no option except to get killed or surrender," he said.
But Mr Malik expressed concern about the possibility of al-Qaeda moving in to fill any void that might have been left by the death of senior Taliban commanders.But Mr Malik expressed concern about the possibility of al-Qaeda moving in to fill any void that might have been left by the death of senior Taliban commanders.
"They are trying to find someone to install him as chief terrorist in area," he said."They are trying to find someone to install him as chief terrorist in area," he said.
Click here to returnClick here to return