Local officials said on Wednesday that several people were killed in a tribal clash on Tuesday over disputed land in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.
The fighting erupted between two tribes living in Dur Baba district and Nazyan district over land that residents of both tribes – Shikhan and Hussain Khail – dispute; the fighting lasted for hours.
At least six tribal men were killed and nearly 20 others wounded in the armed clashes, local officials said.
There were conflicting reports about the fatalities with some saying up to 12 died.
On Wednesday, local politicians mediated between the warring sides to temporarily stop their fighting for several days so that the two sides can bury the dead.
The hostile parties were also called on to halt their fighting for a month due to the coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming religious fasting month of Ramadan.
Local politicians urged the dispute be resolved through a jirga, a traditional problem-solving court by tribal elders and other influential mediators without any government interference.
A Loya Jirga or grand assembly is an ancient Afghan tradition, especially a traditional code of laws from the Pashtun ethnic group convened at times of major national crisis or to settle major disputes.
