When told that the US defence department was also not confirming, Toner said he was aware of press reports from Pakistan but repeated: "I would just reiterate we have no confirmation."

"I both have no comment and no way of confirming his death," he added in response to persistent questioning.

Asked what Pakistan had told US officially or non-officially about Kashmiri's death, Toner said: "I'm not going to get in the substance of those discussions."

Earlier Pentagon spokesman Col Dave Lapan simply told reporters: "No confirmation."

"The department of defence has no confirmation," he said when asked about Gilani's reported statement that the US has confirmed the death of Kashmiri.