KHAR, Sept 29: Four Taliban, including a commander, and nine tribal volunteers were killed in a clash in Darra area of the Bajaur tribal region on Monday. The commander has been identified as Abdul Mutalib.

Local people said that an armed lashkar of the Salarzai tribe had gone to the area, some 30 kilometres northeast of Khar, to set on fire houses of militants and their local supporters. The lashkar was ambushed when it was returning after destroying houses and hideouts of the militants.

The attack triggered a heavy exchange of fire in which nine volunteers and four Taliban militants were killed. Two militants were injured.

Chief of the lashkar Malik Munaseb Khan, meanwhile, announced that the volunteers would continue their campaign till the elimination of all militants in the area.

Officials said that security forces killed 11 militants and injured 14 others in attacks on their positions and bunkers in different areas of Bajaur.

In a related development, Charmang tribesmen have blocked the Babara-Charmang highway to cut off the militants’ supply line. The tribe has announced that it is raising a lashkar to purge the area of Taliban.