Restive valley: TI member wounded in fresh clash with LI militants

Separately, Saudi Riyal worth Rs11 million seized from tribesman at Torkham.

LANDIKOTAL/ BARA: A member of Touheedul Islam (TI) pro-government militia was critically injured on Saturday in a clash with militants of the banned Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency.

According to an official of the political administration, the skirmish between LI militants and TI erupted in Nari Baba area of the agency after a day’s gap. Both groups have been using light and heavy weapons, he added.

During the clash, a member of TI was shot and critically wounded. He was shifted to Agency Headquarters Hospital in Landikotal and was subsequently referred to a hospital in Peshawar. The political administration official said clashes between militants and pro-government militias are still under way.

Earlier on November 12, at least eight people, including LI militants and three TI members, were killed during separate clashes in different parts of Khyber Agency. Moreover, four TI members were also injured during the fighting.

The first clash between LI and TI took place in Zakhakhel area of Tirah valley. Five LI militants, including an important commander Spinbat Khan, were killed during the fight.

In another clash in the Nari Baba area of the agency, seven members of the TI militia were injured.

The entry of over 200 foreign fighters into the restive Tirah Valley and Mangal Bagh’s escape to Afghanistan has further exacerbated the situation in the tribal areas since the armed forces are busy conducting operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan.

Seized

In a separate incident, Saudi Riyal worth Rs11 million were seized by officials of the political administration at the Pak-Afghan border in Torkham on Saturday.

According to Khan Pasand, an official of the political administration, Yaseen Afridi, a tribesman and resident of Landikotal, was held during a routine check. Nearly 0.6 million Saudi Riyal were recovered from a bag he was carrying to Kabul.

The official said Afridi was arrested for illegally transporting currency to another country. Further investigation into the incident is under way.

Earlier in November, the Pak-Afghan border at Torkham had been closed for traffic and pedestrians due to objections raised by Afghan officials over the construction of facilities in Pakistan’s territory.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2014.