This is the first known clash between members of the two rival militant factions of South Waziristan in many years.— File photo by AP

WANA Three militants were killed and several others injured when two groups of militants clashed in Mantoi area of South Waziristan on Tuesday night.

According to local people, the clash between the Mullah Nazir group and the group of TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud resulted in the death of two supporters of Hakimullah and one of Mullah Nazir.

Official sources said that a militant named Hafiz of the Hakimullah group was wanted by the Nazir group because of his alleged involvement in the killing of seven supporters of Nazir group.

This is the first known clash between members of the two rival militant factions of South Waziristan in many years.

Commander Nazir is often regarded as anti-Mehsud, or anti-TTP, especially because he had maintained an undeclared truce with the army during the entire operation against Mehsud-led Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

If the latest clash is result of some local rivalry, then it may not lead to anything major. This does not mean however that there is not a strong possibility of an all-out clash between Commander's Nazir's battle-hardened fighters and the militants among the Mehsud tribesmen, and possibly their other supporters in the TTP.