LADDHA: At least eight militants died and three wounded in running battles between two rival groups in Shaktoi and two other places in South Waziristan on Tuesday, sources said.

Sources privy to the warring groups said that militants allied with Khan Said Group raided the bases of rival Sheharyar Group in Shaktoi, Makeen and Bobar late on Monday. The bases belonged to late Qari Hussain, Commander Achanak and Abu Nasir, associated with Sheharyar Group, sources said.

The clashes left eight fighters wounded, five from Sheharyar and three from Khan Said alias Sajna Group, sources said. The skirmishes continued till Tuesday afternoon but latest reports said that Commander Aryana from Haqqani Network and some commanders from North Waziristan had intervened and succeeded in bringing peace to the area enabling the two sides to remove the dead and wounded.

This is the second time in as many days that rival groups have clashed in Shaktoi in South Waziristan. Local residents maintained that both the groups have several training and other facilities in Shaktoi, Makeen and Bobar area which are close to North Waziristan. The area is mountainous and the army has no presence there.

Militants said that the fighting was a turf war between the erstwhile Waliur Rehman and late TTP leader Hakeemullah Mahsud Group. Waliur Rehman’s Group is now led by Khan Said while Sheharyar leads Hakeemullah’s Group. “This is not a fight between pro and anti peace (talks) groups. It’s a turf war”, credible sources said. Sajna, with 20 commanders has more strength in South Waziristan than Sheharyar — both Shabikhel Mahsuds, sources said.