Clashes, air strikes kill 36

At least 36 people were killed and 15 others injured in tribal clashes in Kurram Agency.

PESHAWAR: At least 36 people were killed and 15 others injured in tribal clashes and shelling from gunship helicopters in Kurram Agency on Sunday, tribal sources said.

Thirteen people were killed and 15 others injured in overnight clashes. Later in the day, gunship helicopters pounded positions of the warring tribes, killing at least 23 people from both tribes, local people said. Security forces had targeted the area to stop the tribes from fighting.

For the past month there have been repeated clashes between two tribes in Shalozan Tangi and Pehur Tangi areas of Kurram Agency over water and road disputes. The fighting has killed at least 139 people so far.

Local people told The Express Tribune that both tribes used heavy weapons including rockets launchers, missiles and machines guns to attack each other positions.

The tribes include Mengal, based in Shalozan Tangi and Bangash Turi from the Pehur Tangi area. Earlier this week, political authorities from Kurram Agency and Parachinar’s ‘Amn Jirga’ mediated a ceasefire between the two tribes, which collapsed late on Saturday night.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2010.