Pakistan - Taliban

Anti-Taliban elders killed after Taliban infighting

Article published on the 2009-08-13 Latest update 2009-08-13 14:24 TU

Armed men, who recently returned to their village, walk past a school girl while providing security in Buner district
(Photo: Reuters)

Three anti-Taliban elders and two pro-government militia leaders were killed in Pakistan's tribal areas on Thursday after reports that at least 15 people were killed in fighting.

A suicide bombing in Wana in South Waziristan killed six people, according to officials. The dead included Malik Khadeen, an elder who had organised tribal meetings and other activities to counter the Taliban especially Uzbek fighters who have taken refuge in the area.

Wana is considered to be a stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud, the Taliban leader reported to have been killed last week.

And two pro-government militia leaders were shot dead and their bullet-riddled bodies dumped in another tribal area, Bajaur.

Fighting between pro-government forces and Mehsud's supporters kiled 15 people, officials say.

Seven people died in gunfights on Wednesday when Taliban and supporters of pro-government warlord, Turkistan Bitani, in a South Waziristan village, intelligence officials say. Bitani's men counterattacked and kidnapped 14 of Mehsud's men, including a commander, Ismatullah Shaheen, they add.

Independent reports only confirm three deaths, says correspondent Behroz Khan, who believes that reports of Mehsud's death have emboldened his opponents.

"Baitullah Mehsud when he was alive was a very strong commander, nobody could challenge him," Khan told RFI. "But now after these reports that he has been killed … these groups who were waiting in the wings to battle Baitullah Mehsud’s group.

"Now it seems that there are more splinter groups in Baitullah Mehsud’s Taliban … So these groups are now challenging the might of Baitullah Mehsud’s group because Baitullah Mehsud’s group is in control of the entire Mehsud territory of South Waziristan because no other group is allowed to function or start any sort of activity."

Pakistani helicopters and security forces killed eight fighters in Kurram tribal district on Thursday, officials report. The rebels had been hiding in Spurkot village after fleeing a tribal area between North-West Frontier Province capital, Peshawar,  and the garrison town of Kohat.