Pakistani officials say gunmen have killed a top Pakistani Taliban commander near the country's border with Afghanistan.
Asmatullah Shaheen died in a shootout Monday while travelling in the Darga Mandi area of North Waziristan.
Local officials have blamed rival militants for his death, but no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Shaheen had served as interim chief of the Pakistani Taliban after a suspected U.S. drone strike killed former chief Hakimullah Mehsud last year. He was later replaced by the militants' current chief, Mullah Fazlullah.
His death comes as the Pakistani government tries to hold peace talks with the Taliban. However, negotiations recently stalled after a string of attacks and counter-attacks by both sides.
Elsewhere in Pakistan, a suicide bombing outside the Iranian consulate in Peshawar killed two security guards and injured at least 10 other people.
Officials say the bomber was walking towards a checkpoint outside the mission when he detonated his explosive device.
Asmatullah Shaheen died in a shootout Monday while travelling in the Darga Mandi area of North Waziristan.
Local officials have blamed rival militants for his death, but no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Shaheen had served as interim chief of the Pakistani Taliban after a suspected U.S. drone strike killed former chief Hakimullah Mehsud last year. He was later replaced by the militants' current chief, Mullah Fazlullah.
His death comes as the Pakistani government tries to hold peace talks with the Taliban. However, negotiations recently stalled after a string of attacks and counter-attacks by both sides.
Elsewhere in Pakistan, a suicide bombing outside the Iranian consulate in Peshawar killed two security guards and injured at least 10 other people.
Officials say the bomber was walking towards a checkpoint outside the mission when he detonated his explosive device.