PESHAWAR - Militants loyal to Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud attacked Kari Wam and captured Jandola, a town at the entrance to the South Waziristan region on Monday after a battle with the pro-government Bhittani tribesmen.

At least six people, four tribesmen and two militants, were killed in the fighting for control of Jandola town, according to Reuters.

“The Taliban have taken over Jandola,” and taken seven tribesmen hostage, the areas police chief told Reuters. In contrast, a Taliban spokesman said that nine people, including seven tribesmen, had been killed and the Taliban had abducted 10 pro-government fighters.

Despite the existence of a 4,000 strong contingent of troops outside the town the military did nothing to stop the attack. When asked by Reuters, an army official directed inquiries towards the Interior Ministry, asserting that security in the area was under their supervision.

Mehsud, who leads the Pakistani Taliban, has close links with al Qaeda, and is accused by the authorities of being behind a wave of suicide attacks since mid-2007..

The attacks had slowly tapered off since the coalition government chose to open talks with Mehsud and other militants to end the violence. Since then, a shaky ceasefire has been in effect in the region.