Even as the succession war hots up in the Pakistani Taliban, a top militant commander has maintained that their chief Baitullah Mehsud was still alive.

Tehreek-e-Taliban South Waziristan 'emir' Wali-ur Rehman told the media in Islamabad that the supreme council of the outfit was yet to name Mehsud's successor. His comments came two days after his rival faction named Hakimullah Mehsud as the new chief of the terrorist group.

Mehsud is alive but seriously ailing, Rehman said. The Taliban chief reportedly died in a US missile strike on August 5.

Ruling out any conflict in the Taliban, Rehman said, "Our movement is active and effective with no rifts or differences within."