Karachi: At least 44 people including 35 foreign militants linked to al-Qaeda have been killed in bloody clashes with local tribesmen in Pakistan's South Waziristan area bordering Afghanistan.
Al-Qaeda-linked militants, majority of them Uzbeks, who had taken refuge in Pakistan, clashed with the members of pro-government peace committee near Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan, local officials said.
Forty-four people, including 35 foreign militants, have been killed in the fighting that erupted on Monday in village Shin Warsek.
Pakistan military spokesman Major-General Waheed Arshad confirmed the clashes.
"The casualties could be higher according to the reports we are getting and the fighting is still going on," an official said.
This is the second time this month that local tribesmen have clashed with foreign militants linked to al-Qaeda in the restive border areas with Afghanistan.
The foreign militants had taken refuge with local tribesmen when the Taliban government was removed by the US and coalition forces in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.
Hundreds of foreign militants are residing in the semi-autonomous tribal border region in Pakistan but officials said the hospitality of local tribesmen was running out for many reasons.
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