SUMMARY

Fighting between the Lashkar of Salarzai tribe and TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan: Taleban Movement of Pakistan) was caused by Talibani militants’ infiltration of tribal areas. Their presence on Salarzai lands was seen as being threatening to the traditional tribal order – as they would follow neither the authority nor the laws put forward by tribal leaders (‘maliks’). Further, the fighting came in the context of an offensive of the Pakistani military against strategic TTP positions in the areas inhabited by the Salarzai.

Salarzai leaders declared repeatedly that they would fight together with the Government of Pakistan in their offensive against TTP. Further, Salarzai maliks have issued threats to their own people, declaring that any collaborator of TTP would be fined two million rupees and have his house burnt down.

As the objectives of the Lashkar of Salarzai tribe were to force TTP militants to leave tribal areas, the group’s main tactic was composed of assaults on known militant hide-outs as well as the destruction of militant houses. Further, the Lashkar supported the actions of the Government of Pakistan against TTP, welcoming the presence of the government's troops.

TTP’s response involved targeted bombings (including suicide attacks) and violent clashes with armed tribesmen. Reports indicate that the Lashkar of Salarzai tribe was successful in their fight against TTP, despite TTP’s access to superior armaments.

The conflict between the Lashkar of Salarzai tribe and TTP has been localized to the area inhabited by the Salarzai tribe – the Salarzai teshil of the Bajaur Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of north-western Pakistan.

The non-state conflict between the Lashkar of Salarzai tribe and TTP is first included in UCDP data in 2008. In October of that year, fighting between the two groups had resulted in over 25 battle-related deaths.