TTP, AI clash leaves 18 dead, several injured

TTP tried to kidnap the AI chief Haji Samar Gul but they failed, says AI spokesperson.

BARA: At least 18 militants were killed Wednesday when Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed the homes of Ansarul Islam (AI) in a fresh spate of turf war going on in the Tirah valley of Khyber Agency.

The political administration officials of the agency confirmed that there was a clash between the two banned outfits, but could not give details due to lack of communication in the area.

AI spokesperson Sadat Afridi said that in the late hours of Tuesday, more than 50 TTP militants stormed the houses of the AI in Narhao area of Bar Qamber Khel and torched around 15 homes. The AI fighters rushed towards the area to repel the attack, he said.

Afridi said the TTP were trying to kidnap the AI chief Haji Samar Gul but they failed. Gul was shot resisting the TTP fighters.

The attack on the homes of AI led to a deadly clash between the two rival outfits which continued the whole night with intervals. On Wednesday, the AI fighters killed 13 TTP militants in the gunfight and injured seven, claimed Afridi. “We have seven bodies of the TTP men that they left behind while fleeing,” he said, adding five AI fighters were killed and seven injured in the clashes.

Dozens of families from Narhao rushed to the relatively safe area of Haidar Kandao, but the tribal elders and AI fighters urged them not to flee and fight the Taliban, Afridi said.

The women and children stayed at Narhao while the teenagers and other AI fighters armed themselves against the Taliban for a final battle, Afridi claimed.

“We have cleared most of the areas of TTP and have pushed them towards the Orakzai Agency. We won’t let them live,” he claimed adding that they would free the valley of TTP.
The ongoing turf war in the Tirah Valley has claimed the lives of hundreds of TTP, AI, Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and Touheedul Islam (TI) fighters. The TTP is siding with Mangal Bagh in his fight against the AI, while AI is backed by pro-government TI militia.

Tirah Valley borders Orakzai and Kurram agencies and serves as a transit for militants moving in the tribal belt.