World Bulletin / News Desk

A key commander in the main Pakistani Taliban network was killed in the restive northwestern North Waziristan province on Thursday, according to his Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan group.

Ashiqullah, a commander of the TTP's Shaharyar Mehsud group which has been involved in deadly infighting, was ambushed in North Waziristan's second-largest town Mir Ali, an intelligence official told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.

It was the first attack since the infighting caused the TTP to split, with the commander Khalid Mehsud taking charge of a large group of fighters loyal to the Mehsud tribe -- which founded the TTP and forms 60 percent of North Waziristan's population.

More than 80 rebels, mostly from the Shaharyar Mehsud group, have been killed since March in fighting for control of neighboring South Waziristan which was once the TTP's headquarters.