PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — clash stuck between tribesmen and Taliban militants left 16 people dead in Pakistan's northwest on Saturday, official said, in the newest violence between pro-government tribal militias and insurgents.
The fighting took place in remote Mohmand region, part of the lawless tribal belt all along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, killing 12 tribal militiamen and 4 militants.
Islamabad has encouraged local tribesmen in the semiautonomous frontier area to set up militias — known as lashkars — to flush out Taliban fighters blamed for attacks in Pakistan as healthy as in Afghanistan.
Such groups have been set up in several regions, but face stiff Taliban resistance.
Saturday's clash was the first major combating in months between tribesmen and militants in the Mohmand tribal region. Tribal elder have begin to clear the area of militants after receiving a warning from the military that it would be compulsory to send in troops if the tribesmen failed to also kill or evict the insurgents.
Dozens of militants attacked the tribesmen after in receipt of a warning from a board of tribal elders to leave the area, the official said.
"The fighting flanked by tribesmen and Taliban began this daybreak and so far 16 people, including 12 tribesmen and four Taliban have died," a local government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not official to speak to the media.
Local security officials confirmed the clashes and the loss toll.
Access to the remote area is strictly forbidden, and the account could not be independently verified.
The aggression comes as Pakistan's military prepares for an offensive in South Waziristan, another part of the tribal restraint where top Taliban and al-Qaida leaders are believed to be hiding.
The fighting took place in remote Mohmand region, part of the lawless tribal belt all along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, killing 12 tribal militiamen and 4 militants.
Islamabad has encouraged local tribesmen in the semiautonomous frontier area to set up militias — known as lashkars — to flush out Taliban fighters blamed for attacks in Pakistan as healthy as in Afghanistan.
Such groups have been set up in several regions, but face stiff Taliban resistance.
Saturday's clash was the first major combating in months between tribesmen and militants in the Mohmand tribal region. Tribal elder have begin to clear the area of militants after receiving a warning from the military that it would be compulsory to send in troops if the tribesmen failed to also kill or evict the insurgents.
Dozens of militants attacked the tribesmen after in receipt of a warning from a board of tribal elders to leave the area, the official said.
"The fighting flanked by tribesmen and Taliban began this daybreak and so far 16 people, including 12 tribesmen and four Taliban have died," a local government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not official to speak to the media.
Local security officials confirmed the clashes and the loss toll.
Access to the remote area is strictly forbidden, and the account could not be independently verified.
The aggression comes as Pakistan's military prepares for an offensive in South Waziristan, another part of the tribal restraint where top Taliban and al-Qaida leaders are believed to be hiding.
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