MyJihad in Pakistan: Rival jihad groups clash, 24 killed

An especially strenuous fitness session: "Militant groups clash in Pakistan, 24 killed," by Riaz Khan for the Associated Press, January 26 (thanks to Maxwell):

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — 'Two Islamic militant groups clashed Saturday over control of a prized valley in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 24 people and wounding dozens more, officials said.

Arshad Khan of the Khyber tribal region said the fighting between the two Islamic militant groups began Friday in Tirah valley, near the Afghan border, when the militant group, Tehrik-e-Taliban, captured the base of another militant group, Ansarul Islam. Ansarul Islam tried to retake the base and fighting continued into Saturday.

The Pakistani military has been battling a stubborn insurgency in northwest Pakistan in rugged tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.

The remote valley, tucked in mountainous terrain, is highly valued by militant groups as a base of operations. It's difficult for the Pakistani military to enter the area, which allows militants easy access to Afghanistan and other tribal areas of Pakistan.

Most of the dead were militants, but some local tribesmen also were killed, according to a Pakistani military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to disclose the information to the media....

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/01/myjihad-in-pakistan-rival-jihad-groups-clash-24-killed.html