Across Asia: Pakistan

Gov't says Mehsud dead

Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud has died, the country's top civilian security official said yesterday, giving the government's first categorical confirmation of the death of the feared militant leader. Reports of Mehsud's death emerged after a spate of US missiles hit his stronghold in Pakistan's northwest tribal belt in mid-January. Mehsud was said to have died of wounds suffered in one of the strikes.