Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistan-Clash es-Casualties Militants, Pakistan tribesmen clashes kill 46: reports

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, March 21, IRNA

Latest clashes between Pakistani tribesmen and foreign militants have killed at least 46 people, including 35 militants in Pakistan's tribal areas, it was reported on Wednesday.

The al Qaeda-linked militants, mostly ethnic Uzbeks, have clashed with the members of the pro-government peace committee near Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan over the last two days, the reports said.

Reports by Pakistan's TV channels said that 11 local tribesmen including four children were also killed in the clashes, the most severe in recent months, which have started since Monday when the two sides confronted each other.

Both sides used heavy weapons and one mortar shell has landed in a school, killing four children and injuring 30 others, added the reports.

At the end of the clashes, the Uzbek militants blocked roads linking Wana to the border town of Angor Adda.

This is the second time in less than a month that the two sides fought in the tribal region, the reports added.

An early clash on March 6 between the militants and the members of tribal peace committee had killed at least 13 Uzbek militants.

Since then, the situation is tense in the area despite a ceasefire rooked between the two sides earlier this month by local tribesmen.

2020/2021/1394/1414