LANDI KOTAL, June 5: At least six militants were killed when rival groups clashed in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency on Tuesday, sources said.

They said that Kukikhel peace lashkar launched a fresh offensive against Taliban affiliated with Tariq Afridi group in Dwa Thoe area that resulted in killing of six militants.

Taliban had earlier claimed to have captured some bunkers previously occupied by Kukikhel volunteers in the same locality.

Zabita Khan, a Kukikhel elder in Jamrud, told Dawn that reinforcements were dispatched to Tirah. He claimed that the tribal volunteers had besieged Taliban from three sides. Taliban would soon be flushed out from Kukikhel area as the entire tribe was against their presence, he added.

In Akkakhel area of Bara, members of banned outfit Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) attacked a checkpost of the local peace committee. At least 14 peace volunteers were injured in the attack. Two of them were in critical condition, sources said.

The Akkakhel Peace Committee on Sunday had given an ultimatum to militants in their area to lay down arms and surrender. At least three local commanders of Lashkar-i- Islam laid down arms after the ultimatum.

Meanwhile, security forces on Tuesday allowed opening of Sam Baba-Qambarkhel Road for one hour each in the morning and evening. Security forces had sealed all important link roads in Bara since the Shalobar tribe was ordered to leave their houses in the first week of May.

Closure of roads have created multiple problems for Bara residents as some localities like Sipah and Shalobar are faced with acute shortage of food and medicines.

Sources said that closure of another important road, connecting Shalobar, Sipah, Malikdinkhel, Qambarkhel and Kamarkhel areas with Peshawar, had badly affected the residents of those localities. MNA from Bara Hamidullah Jan has constituted a jirga to negotiate reopening of all link roads with security forces and political administration.