ISLAMABAD, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud was injured in Thursday's U.S. drone attack in the country's northwestern tribal area, an official said Friday.

    On the condition of anonymity the local official claimed that Hakimullah, the chief of the banned outfit Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was present on the spot when the attack was carried out in Pasalkot village of North Waziristan. He said that he was seriously injured.

    Tribal sources also confirmed that Hakimullah was seriously injured in the drone strike. According to local reports, Hakimullah was present in the area to meet Uzbek militants.

    Meanwhile, Taliban sources told media that Mehsud was injured and moved to a safe area and was being treated by doctors.

    Pakistani Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told Xinhua that there is no confirmation and authentic information about Hakimullah whether he was dead or injured. He said, "these reports are unauthentic."

    Analyst and expert on Afghan and regional affairs Rahimullah Yousafzai told Xinhua that Taliban had accepted that Hakimullah was present in the Madrassah (religious school) that was hit by drone missile.

    He said, "If he was present in the area at the time of the attack then something might have happened."

    Local TV reports said earlier that Hakimullah and three top commanders were among 12 killed on Thursday morning in a U.S. air strike hitting a compound in Pasalkot village of North Waziristan agency near the Afghan border.

    However, the TTP spokesman later denied the reports of his killing, saying Hakimullah left the scene before the strike was carried out. "He is alive and safe," the spokesman said.

Special Report: Pakistani Situation