Clashes continue for the third consecutive day in Shawal. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
MIRANSHAH: At least 10 members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed in clashes between factions in Shawal tehsil on the confluence of North and South Waziristan Agencies on Thursday.
Around 14 others were injured in infighting, which continued till the filing of this report. The clashes continued for the third consecutive day in Shawal.
A security forces official said members of TTP’s Waliur Rahman group led by Khan Syed, alias Sajna, attacked a compound of Shamim, a commander of TTP’s Hakimullah Group led by Shehryar Mehsud. Ten militants were killed on both sides.
The official said that both groups are trying to get control of the compound, adding that some of the injured were in critical condition.
Independent sources said efforts are underway since Tuesday by local Mehsud elders to convince the groups to cease fighting. However, both groups resumed the violence against each other after a brief interlude. Since Tuesday, 22 members of both groups have been killed so far.
The internal strife erupted in the first week of April in South Waziristan Agency, which later spread to Tank district and North Waziristan.
The first clashes between the groups surfaced in April. Elders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stepped in to stop the violence and broker a deal, but that failed and the fighting resumed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2014.
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