Waziristan violence: Five more killed in Taliban infighting

Tribal jirga failed to broker ceasefire, say local residents.

MIRAMSHAH:

Five militants were killed and four injured in fresh clashes between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) factions on the border of North and South Waziristan agencies Wednesday morning.

A security forces official said the clashes erupted in Wachu Mela, an area stretched across both North and South Waziristan agencies near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The area where the fighting is ongoing between the Shehryar Mehsud-led Hakimullah group and Waliur Rahman faction led by Khan Said alias Sajna is located 60 kilometres away from TTP’s Miramshah headquarters.

The official said that both groups were using heavy and light weapons against each other, and reportedly even used mortar shells. Local residents said a tribal jirga has been making frantic efforts to broker a ceasefire between the warring factions. However, it has no luck so far.

According to independent sources, three members from Shehryar Mehsud group and two from Sajna’s faction were killed in fresh clashes. At least 14 TTP members were killed on Tuesday. More than 60 militants have been killed and scores more wounded in the infighting which began in the first week of April in South Waziristan Agency, which later spread to Tank district and North Waziristan Agency.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2014.