At least 31 militants were killed and several of their hideouts were destroyed in internal clashes and military action in Khyber Agency and Upper Orakzai.
Officials said clashes between militants from rival groups, Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansarul Islam, erupted after more than three weeks in Khyber Agency’s Tirah Valley. The officials said eight militants from both sides were killed in the clashes.
In military action in the valley, jet fighters bombed two dins of the militants and killed five of the occupants. A notorious militant commander was also killed in the assault. However, his identity could not be ascertained.
The volunteers of a tribal peace lashkar, with support of the security forces, attacked a compound of militants in Naray Baba of Tirah Valley. The clashes were going on until the filing of this report and officials claimed killing of 10 militants so far.
Meanwhile, the security forces with help of jet fighters targeted militant dins in both Owt Mela and Nandar Mela areas of Orakzai Agency.
According to another official, eight militants were killed and several hideouts were destroyed in the clashes. The security forces are said to be advancing towards the destroyed dins of the militants.
