Factions in Kurram to stop fighting

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 2 (UPI) -- Pakistan's Kurram Agency Thursday awaited calm after a reported cease-fire among warring factions as troops began deploying there to fight the Taliban.

Kurram Agency, part of Pakistan's volatile FATA, or federally administered tribal areas, has been the scene of violent clashes in recent days among the factions, some penetrated by the Taliban, leaving dozens dead.

The Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported Thursday that Kurram's political administration succeeded in convincing the factions, among them the Toori and Bangash clans, to stop fighting.

That agreement allowed security forces to begin deploying in Khwar Kaley, Blishkhel and Lakeysar areas, with more expected to come in, Dawn said.

The local militias, or Lashkars, have been fighting to eject Taliban militants who reportedly moved into their areas after escaping from the military in the northwest region, especially the Swat Valley.

But after factional fighting broke out, the tribal people sought the army's intervention, the newspaper said. Prior to that, sources told Dawn hundreds of Lashkars had attacked suspected militant hideouts and killed 26 militants, including a key commander.

Toori tribesmen were quoted as saying they had raised the Lashkars to prevent the militants from capturing lower Kurram.

Kurram is a vital area which the militants use to cross into Afghanistan to attack NATO-led forces.