Around the World: Pakistan

Taliban chief reported dead

Pakistani officials said yesterday they were investigating reports that the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan died from wounds sustained earlier this month in an airstrike carried out by a US.drone aircraft.

Rumors of Hakimullah Mehsud's death have been swirling for days, and officials had been largely dismissive of the reports. But the state-owned Pakistan Television Corp., citing unnamed officials, said Mehsud had died and was recently buried in one of the Taliban-dominated tribal areas that border Afghanistan.