TTP militants capture AI headquarters in Tirah
March 19, 2013
BARA: After fierce fighting, militants of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) captured the headquarters of its rival Ansarul Islam (AI) and hoisted its flag on the building in Bagh area of Maidan in Tirah valley in Khyber Agency on Monday, tribal sources said.
The sources said hundreds of TTP militants pushed back AI fighters in Qamberkhel and entered Malikdinkhel on Sunday night and moved towards Bagh headquarters with light resistance from the rival group.
They occupied the headquarters and surrounding bazaar in Bagh and hoisted its flags on the office of the Tirah-based armed outfit. Reports said AI chief Qazi Mehboob and his deputy Ezatullah had shifted to Zakhakhel and vacated the main office in Bagh on Sunday night.
However, his whereabouts could not be confirmed. The houses and office of Qazi and his deputy were blown up by the TTP in Malikdinkhel area. However, the TTP militants were yet to enter Shalobar and Zakhakhel areas being controlled by the AI.
A minor clash occurred between the fighters of AI and TTP in some pockets in Qamberkhel and Malikdinkhel. Pakistani jetfighters bombarded the suspected positions of TTP in Tarkikhel and Durbikhel areas of Qambarkhel and destroyed its three hideouts.
However, casualties could not be confirmed due to the disrupted communication system in Maidan.The elders of Khwajalkhel running a peace body in Maidan refused to give control of its areas to security forces.
The sources said hundreds of TTP militants pushed back AI fighters in Qamberkhel and entered Malikdinkhel on Sunday night and moved towards Bagh headquarters with light resistance from the rival group.
They occupied the headquarters and surrounding bazaar in Bagh and hoisted its flags on the office of the Tirah-based armed outfit. Reports said AI chief Qazi Mehboob and his deputy Ezatullah had shifted to Zakhakhel and vacated the main office in Bagh on Sunday night.
However, his whereabouts could not be confirmed. The houses and office of Qazi and his deputy were blown up by the TTP in Malikdinkhel area. However, the TTP militants were yet to enter Shalobar and Zakhakhel areas being controlled by the AI.
A minor clash occurred between the fighters of AI and TTP in some pockets in Qamberkhel and Malikdinkhel. Pakistani jetfighters bombarded the suspected positions of TTP in Tarkikhel and Durbikhel areas of Qambarkhel and destroyed its three hideouts.
However, casualties could not be confirmed due to the disrupted communication system in Maidan.The elders of Khwajalkhel running a peace body in Maidan refused to give control of its areas to security forces.
