PESHAWAR, July 5: At least 12 people were killed when rival tribes in tribal region bordering Afghanistan exchanged missiles, rockets and mortar bombs, officials said on Friday.

The fighting erupted over a land dispute on Wednesday and the two sides were locked in combat using surface-to-surface missiles, rocket launchers, mortars and light weapons, officials said.

Officials said a contingent of paramilitary troops was dispatched to the area on Thursday but had failed to quell the violence.—AFP