Tirah: Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and Ansarul Islam (AI) claim killing each other’s men

[Naveed Yaseen]

TIRAH: After pause for a year in the bloody clashes, the banned Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and Ansarul Islam (AI) Sunday claimed killing and capturing each other’s several men in the fresh fighting in Qamarkhel area of Tirah valley in Khyber Agency.

The AI spokesman said that after taking control of Takht Takai, Ghulam Ali and Sokh areas, their men had entered Garhai area. “We have captured a commander of LI, eight vehicles and killed their three fighters,” the spokesman added, however, the spokesman for LI, Zar Khan, rejected the AI claim and said that their men were in Takht Lakai and had captured 20 AI armed volunteers.

The claims of the two rival outfits could not be confirmed independently due to disrupted communication system because of heavy rains in the area. Severe clashes broke out when armed volunteers of LI and AI started targeting each other’s positions with light and heavy weapons Saturday. Hundreds of LI and AI men have been killed and as many injured while dozens of houses destroyed in these clashes.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=186630