Pakistan – Senior TTP Commander Killed

Pakistan – Senior TTP Commander Killed:  Asmatullah Shaheen, considered to be interim leader of Pakistani Taliban (TTP) has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the village of Dargah Mandi, in the vicinity of Miranshah, regional capital of North Waziristan (map). Shaheen replaced, on November 1^st, 2013, the previous commander of TTP, Mehsud, who was killed by a US drone strike. The killing was confirmed to the media by  a family member (India Today). The talks between the Taliban and Pakistan failed to proceed after February 6^th, 2014; sources argue that Shaheen was considered one of the supporters of the peace-process, just as speculations on the media suggest the TTP leadership is loosing control over splinter groups inside their organization, which oppose the possibility of direct negotiations with the Pakistani Government.