Hakimullah Mehsud previously reported dead , buried . Islamabad , Pakistan ( CNN ) -- Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud is alive and remains in hiding , a spokesman for the group told CNN Thursday . He is `` alive and he is our chief , '' Taliban spokesman Azim Tariq says . Tariq : Mehsud remains in hiding because he is being targeted by U.S. drone attacks . The Pakistani government has said it will not negotiate with the militants until they lay down their arms or surrender to Pakistan's military.
Hakimullah Mehsud previously reported dead , buried . He is `` alive and he is our chief , '' Taliban spokesman Azim Tariq says . Tariq : Mehsud remains in hiding because he is being targeted by U.S. drone attacks . The Pakistani government has said it will not negotiate with the militants until they lay down their arms or surrender to Pakistan's military.