Across Asia: Pakistan

Taliban commander killed

A gunman working as a guard killed a rival of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud yesterday, security officials said, dealing a blow to a government plan to defeat Al-Qaida ally Mehsud.

The murdered militant commander, known as Qari Zainuddin, had recently spoken out strongly against Mehsud and may have been about to mount a challenge against him. He was killed in the northwestern town of Dera Ismail Khan, police said.