The rivalry between the terrorist groups Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has worsened, with a severe clash taking place on the nights of February 15th and 16th, Samma News reported on Tuesday.
In the conflict, a senior Jamaat-ul-Ahrar commander, named Qari Ismail or Ziaur Rahman, was severely injured in a devastating attack in the Lala Pul region of District Loralai.
Other Jamaat-ul-Ahrar members have stated that the incident is part of a larger struggle between rival factions, Target Killing and Dharo. Qari Ismail, a renowned commander for the past decade, is from Khyber district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
These militants, who were responsible for terrorist strikes in Punjab and Peshawar, killed civilians as well as law enforcement personnel. The rivalry between Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and the TTP arose with the killing of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar leader Omar Khalid Khorasani in August 2022.
Notably, conflicts have erupted following the dismissal of two Jamaat-ul-Ahrar-affiliated commanders from ministerial positions by the TTP's central committee, chaired by Mohsin Wazir and backed by Muhassud Wali. Both terrorist factions compete for control of the Khyber region, raising tensions to the verge of warfare.