Islamabad, July 6, IRNA – Unidentified gunmen have shot dead a Pakistani Taliban commander in South Waziristan tribal region, official sources said.

Muhammad Wali was killed in Bermal area of South Waziristan late Wednesday night, they said. His guard was also killed in the attack.

Wali was the brother of the former chief of Taliban movement, Nek Mohammad, who was also killed in a US drone strike in 2004.

Sources said that Wali was staying at the house of a relative and gunmen opened fire at him and his guard when they were asleep. They died at the scene.

Wali was appointed commander of the Taliban group after killing of his predecessor, Maulvi Omar. Maulvi Omar was appointed commander of the group after killing of Nek Mohammad.

According to sources, Wali had left South Waziristan and settled in North Waziristan due to differences within Taliban groups.

He had returned to South Waziristan after successful talks among Taliban groups November last year.