QUETTA: A heavy exchange of fire started between two rival factions of Mengal tribe in Wadh area of Khuzdar district on Tuesday as the two sides broke the ceasefire, which was reached with the efforts of the chief of Sarawan tribe, Nawab Aslam Raisani, and other tribal elders.

The gunbattle led to suspension of traffic between Khuzdar and Karachi in the evening.

Officials in Wadh confirmed resumption of the fighting and heavy exchange of fire between the two factions of the Mengal tribe.

“The firing started again from both sides as the armed men of the two sides were already sitting in their trenches despite the ceasefire,” a senior official of the Wadh administration told Dawn by phone.

“Both sides have used small- and medium-range guns for exchange of fire, but no mortars and rockets have been used so far,” the official said, adding that none of the injured has been brought to hospital so far.

“We have closed the Khuzdar-Karachi National Highway because of security situation,” the official said. Nawab Aslam Raisani, after receiving reports of the resumption of fighting, has started mediation efforts and contacted tribal elders in Khuzdar.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2023