Violence between Shia and Sunni armed groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district has resulted in at least 68 deaths and left more than a dozen others injured, prompting Pakistan’s government to intervene. Officials have called for a ceasefire after intense fighting broke out over a long-standing land dispute between tribal groups, which has led to deadly clashes between the two sects.
The violence began Thursday when gunmen attacked a convoy of civilian vehicles, killing at least 40 people, mostly Shia Muslims. This attack sparked retaliatory violence, with Sunni residents also targeted, escalating the conflict. Armed groups from both communities have launched attacks on rival civilian settlements, burning petrol stations, and forcing many to evacuate their homes. Markets and schools in the region remain closed.
Government officials have since stepped in, meeting with both Shia and Sunni tribal leaders in an attempt to broker a ceasefire. While tensions remain high, Muhammad Ali Saif, the information minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that there have been positive developments in the talks.
On Saturday, the government’s delegation was met with resistance, including gunfire aimed at the helicopter carrying the officials. Despite the attack, the helicopter safely completed its mission.
The ongoing violence has raised fears that the death toll will continue to rise, particularly as communication systems in the region are slowly being restored. With limited access to affected areas, it is expected that the final toll will be higher than currently reported.
Kurram district, which lies near the Afghanistan border, has long been a flashpoint for sectarian violence. This recent wave of violence follows a similar series of clashes in September, where at least 50 people died and over 120 were injured over an eight-day period. The conflict over the land dispute has led to widespread disruption in the region, including the closure of key highways and borders, exacerbating shortages of essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicines.
The violence has spread to several areas within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Balishkhel, Sadda, Khar Kallay, Peewar, and Maqbal, regions that are already highly volatile due to their proximity to Afghanistan’s Khost, Paktia, Logar, and Nangarhar provinces, which are known to be strongholds of extremist groups like ISIS and the Pakistani Taliban.
As the situation continues to unfold, authorities are urging for calm and the restoration of order in the region, while also emphasizing the importance of a peaceful resolution to the underlying land disputes that have fueled the sectarian violence.
Sources By Agencies
