SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A woman was killed and her two sons were injured when a mortar shell landed near her residence in Zam China area of Birmal tehsil in Lower South Waziristan on Sunday.

According to police, the mortar shell fired from an unknown location landed near the residence of a local, Muhammad Wali Wazir, killing his wife on the spot and injuring two sons.

The injured were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital, Wana.

Meanwhile, seven people were injured during an exchange of gunfire over a land dispute in Zarmilan village in Toi Khula tehsil.

Wana DSP Circle Asghar Ali Shah told Dawn by telephone that the clash erupted between two sub-clans of the Dinarkhel tribe, including the Malik Galan group and the Malik Lal Khan group.

The injured were taken to the DHQ Hospital Wana, where one of them was said to be in critical condition.

According to the DSP, the dispute has lingered on for several years. A few days earlier, another person was injured in a firing incident over the same issue.

Following that incident, tribal elders from the Sulemankhel and Sultankhel tribes intervened and brokered a four-day ceasefire.

However, the ceasefire collapsed during a jirga convened to resolve the dispute. Witnesses said both the groups allegedly violated the agreement and opened indiscriminate fire on each other in the presence of tribal elders and mediators, resulting in multiple injuries to some participants.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2026