LANDI KOTAL: Militants beheaded a tribesman in public after accusing him of spying for security forces in Mehraban Kalay area of Tirah valley in Khyber Agency on Friday.

According to sources, the beheading was carried out in a market and militants ordered local people not to remove the body till evening. 

Mehraban Kalay and adjacent areas are under control of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (Tariq Afri­di group), but Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) also has some influence.

Also read: At least 20 suspected militants killed in Tirah

The two groups joined hands after LI chief Mangal Bagh invited all outlawed militant groups to come to Bara and fight against security forces after the Khyber-1 military operation was lau­nched against the LI on Oct 16.

Meanwhile, volunteers of the pro-government Tauheedul Islam group captured two sympathisers of LI and took them to an unspecified place. The two men have been identified as Niaz and Mehrab Gul.

In Bara, meanwhile, security forces and local political administration extended on Friday the deadline to Saturday noon for Sipah and Malikdin Khel tribes to vacate their homes. The deadline was extended after tribal elders sought more time to shift families to safe places.

In Kamar Khel area, security forces ordered residents to stay indoors at night and warned that anyone violating the order would be shot.

In a related development, the Fata Disaster Management Authority has said that 53,819 families comprising 364,960 people have so far moved out of Bara and Tirah valley. There are 213,195 children and 77,319 women among them. 

The authority said on Friday that each family had been provided with one meal, free transportation and emergency health care. Children under the age of five have been vaccinated against polio.

Also on Friday, 39 militants belonging to LI, their two leaders Akbar and Javed among them, surrendered to security forces in Khyber Agency.

This is the largest group of LI militants to give up arms since the launching of an intelligence-based operation in the area.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2014

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...