LANDI KOTAL: A local Taliban commander, eight other militants and two volunteers were killed on Wednesday as heavy clashes between the two groups continued in Tirah valley of Khyber tribal region.

The Kukikhel tribe claimed to have killed nine Taliban and captured four others, but their claim could not be verified from independent sources.

Two volunteers of Akkakhel peace committee were shot dead by Lashkar-i-Islam men in the Abdullah Kor area.

It is learnt that Taliban commander Nazir Afridi was among the dead.

He was a nephew of Mangal Bagh and brother-in-law of Taliban commander Tariq Afridi.

Officials in Bara said Nazir Afridi was involved in a number of subversive activities, including attacks on military convoys and destruction of government buildings, but they did not confirm his killing.