46 Taliban fighters killed

46 Taliban fighters, including an Uzbek commander, were killed in fierce fighting between rival militant organisations in Pakistan’s restive Khyber tribal region. The militants were killed in two suicide attacks which were carried out shortly after fighters of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan occupied the headquarters of the pro-government Ansar-ul-Islam in Tirah Valley. An Uzbek commander named Abu Islam was among the militants killed in the attacks, The News daily quoted tribesmen and official sources as saying. Some media reports said the Ansar-ul-Islam had carried out three suicide attacks on the Taliban, though this could not be independently confirmed as journalists are barred from reporting from the tribal areas. On Monday, when the Taliban fighters entered the headquarters of the Ansar-ul-Islam at Bagh in Tirah Valley, a suicide attacker blew himself up. Dozens of militants were injured in the attacks.