Jirga in Kurram turns violent, TTP infighting kills 19 JuA fighters and three TTP members
A photo of a TTP member. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
More than a dozen terrorists were killed in deadly clashes between the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its breakaway faction TTP-Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA), as tensions peaked between commanders of both sides in the Kurram tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, sources said. The express PAkGazette on Friday.
The deadly fighting in the Manato area of Central Kurram followed the TTP Central Shura’s decision to take disciplinary action against some commanders of the JuA faction. Sources added that the clashes began after JuA fighters were allegedly asked to hand over weapons or comply with the directives of local TTP commanders.
Infighting reportedly left 19 JuA fighters dead, while three TTP members were also killed, sources claimed.
Read: Break in the fight
Sharing more details, sources further claimed that a jirga had been called to address the rising tensions and resolve the dispute; However, the situation deteriorated when gunfire broke out between the two factions during the tribal assembly.
Meanwhile, the JuA has vowed to avenge the killings and has circulated images of its slain members on social media, according to sources.
In another development, security sources said that during a recent military operation in Shawal and Spinwam areas of North Waziristan, a senior terrorist commander identified as Jan Mir alias Tor Saqib was killed along with around 30 other militants.
They added that Jan Mir was considered an expert in explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and was known for his tactical expertise.
