ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud is dead, a militant commander and aide to Mehsud said on Friday.

While Pakistani officials did not confirm new of the notorious commander's death, they said they are verifying reports he was killed in a drone attack earlier this week.

If confirmed, Mehsud's death would score a coup in the US-led fight against Islamist militants and deal a heavy blow to the sizeable Taliban movement he commanded.