Islamabad, Aug 11 (IANS): Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik Monday confirmed that the Taliban chief in Pakistan Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone attack four days ago, despite claims to the contrary by some Taliban leaders.
All the "credible information" points to Baitullah Mehsud having died in the Wednesday attack, Malik told National Assembly here, Geo TV reported.
Citing intelligence reports, Malik also said that "Hakeemullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman scuffled with each other" after the death of Baitullah.
The minister said the attack on the Taliban chief was conducted in the intervening night of Aug 5 and 6, and "was a successful one".
"Baitullah's doctor has also confirmed his presence at the house in the attack night," Malik added.
The Pakistani minister also told BBC that following the Tehrik-e-Taliban chief's death, the Pakistan Taliban appeared to be in disarray and there were reports of deadly infighting over who should replace Mehsud.
"It will take some time for them to regroup," Malik said, but expressed concern that Al Qaeda is trying to install someone as Mehsud's replacement.
"The other thing which is a bit worrying is that Al Qaeda is getting grouped in the same place, and now they are trying to find somebody to install him as the leader, as the chief terrorist, in that area," Malik said.
A pro-government tribal leader Turkestan Bittani Sunday claimed that fighting between rival groups for the leadership of Pakistani Taliban had left 24 rebels, including two possible successors to Baitullah Mehsud, dead.
The top Taliban commander was believed killed along with his younger wife in a US missile attack on his father-in-law's house in South Waziristan Wednesday.
According to Bittani, Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman exchanged fire at a meeting of shura, Taliban's advisory council, which was choosing a successor to Mehsud in the lawless tribal district of South Waziristan.
"Twenty-one more people also died in the clashes that still continue in various areas," said Bittani, a Taliban defector and old rival of Baitullah Mehsud.
However, Maulana Noor Saeed, one of the aides of Mehsud told Pakistan media Sunday that the reports of Baitullah's death are unfounded. He said Baitullah Mehsud is alive but he is ill.
According to Noor Saeed, Baitullah went to his father-in-law Ikramuddin's home last Wednesday. However, he had left the area before the drone strike occurred. Baitullah's wife, however, did die in the attack.