ISLAMABAD , Pakistan ( CNN ) -- The United States knows that the leader of Pakistan 's Taliban is dead because he has not appeared in public to prove that he is alive , the top U.S. envoy to the region told CNN on Monday . Baitullah Mehsud , right , and a bodyguard arrive at a meeting in South Waziristan , Pakistan , in 2004 . Richard Holbrooke said that the Pakistani Taliban have not confirmed the death of Baitullah Mehsud because of an ongoing power struggle over his successor . `` The reason it 's clear he 's dead is that if he were n't dead , he 'd be giving TV and radio interviews to prove he 's not dead , '' Holbrooke told CNN 's Cal Perry . Mehsud rarely gave news conferences or appeared before the media . There has been conflicting information from the Pakistani Taliban about whether Mehsud died in a suspected U.S. missile strike earlier this month . Watch Holbrooke say Mehsud is dead » . Last week , Pakistani Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar told CNN that Mehsud is alive , but ill , and will speak to reporters when he feels better . Other media reports have quoted another spokesman for the group as saying Mehsud is dead and a mourning period is underway . U.S. and Pakistani government officials have said they are confident that Mehsud was killed in the August 5 strike . DNA tests were reportedly being conducted to back up those claims , but U.S. officials have expressed doubt that enough genetic material would be left behind , considering the enormity of the strike . Holbrooke said Mehsud 's death has sparked `` a succession crisis '' among the Pakistani Taliban . `` The chaos benefits us but it does n't mean that this thing is over , '' the top envoy said .
Richard Holbrooke : `` It 's clear '' Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud is dead . Mehsud would be on TV and radio if he were alive , U.S. envoy says . Taliban has given conflicting reports about whether Mehsud killed in missile strike . One Taliban spokesman says Mehsud is ill and will reappear when he feels better .