PESHAWAR, April 19: Clashes between tribesmen backed by helicopter gunships and militants left at least nine people dead and several others injured in Shawa tehsil of North Waziristan on Thursday.

According to an official, the heavy gunfight between supporters of tribal elder Satar Qabalkhel and Taliban militant Hafiz Gul Bahadur started at 6am and continued till 3pm.

Later, helicopters were sent to pound the positions of militants who had besieged the Qabalkhel Wazir tribe.

“Both sides have stopped firing, but tension prevails,” an official in Miramshah said.

Sources said militants loyal to Sirajuddin Haqqani of Afghanistan also took part in the clashes.

Four supporters of Satar Qabalkhel and at least five militants were killed in the clash.

It is the first time that a tribe has challenged the might of the Taliban in North Waziristan.

Satar Qabalkhel, who wields influence in Shawa tehsil, is a Taliban deserter.

According to sketchy accounts available, militants had killed a member of the Qabalkhel Wazir tribe about two years ago. The heirs of the slain tribesman killed a militant some two months ago.

Militants encircled houses of Qabalkhel Wazirs in Shawa area, adjacent to Mirali tehsil, before dawn and launched a heavy attack on them. The residents launched a counter-attack and clashes continued for several hours.

According to officials, four Qabalkhel tribesmen and two supporters of Gul Bahadur were injured in the clashes.

After a brief lull, militants launched another attack against the tribesmen and the authorities sent air support to rescue them.

Helicopters shelled militants’ positions and dispersed them. Four militants were killed in the shelling.