The militant commander was accorded a "warm welcome" by people of his Mehsud tribe when he appeared in Saam village in South Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan, the witnesses were quoted as saying by the media in Islamabad.

Pakistani and international media had earlier reported that Mehsud, who suffered from diabetes and hypertension, had died on Tuesday after lapsing into a coma. But, Pakistani Taliban spokesman Maulvi Omar and Mehsud's family had denied the reports of his death.

Tribesmen and Taliban fighters reportedly fired rocket launchers and automatic weapons when Mehsud appeared in Saam and was presented with a traditional turban.

The Taliban leader also visited other areas in South Waziristan, including Ladha, Kani Garam, Salai Rogha and Badr, NNI news agency reported.