Shiite Muslims chant slogans to condemn the killing of Shiite Muslims by gunmen in an ambush in Kurram district, during a demonstration in Lahore, Pakistan on Friday (November 22, 2024). File
| Photo Credit: AP

The death toll in Khurram tribal sectarian violence rose to 124 with two more deaths on Saturday (November 30, 2024) as a gunbattle continued between Shia and Sunni groups despite a ceasefire in Pakistan’s northwestern Province Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.

“More than 170 people have been injured in the sectarian violence raging for the last ten days,” authorities said.

Province’s governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday (November 29, 2024) extended an offer to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to personally visit the disturbed area.

Clashes between Alizai and Bagan tribes in the district started on November 22, after an attack on a convoy of passenger vans near Parachinar in which 47 people were killed a day earlier.

Several passengers who had sustained grave injuries succumbed later, taking the death toll to 57.

At least 37 people have been killed and scores injured over the last two days alone in the violence that began in Bagan Bazaar area and spread to other parts such as Balishkhel, Khar, Kali, Junj Alizai, and Maqbal.

The government had on Sunday (November 24, 2024) brokered a seven-day ceasefire between the Shia and Sunni communities. The truce was later extended to 10 days.

The main Peshawar-Parachinar highway has been closed to all traffic, while internet and mobile services remain suspended.

Governor Kundi also planned to dispatch members of a grand peace jirga (council of the tribal leaders) from Kohat division to Khurram district for engaging with leaders from both warring factions to negotiate peace.

Protests against the killing of Shiite Muslims by gunmen in an ambush in Kurram district, during a demonstration in Lahore, Pakistan, on November 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

At least 10 more people have been killed and 21 others injured as sporadic clashes continued between Sunni and Shia tribes despite a cease-fire brokered between the two communities in Pakistan’s restive northwest, police said on Wednesday (November 27, 2024).

The latest violence took place on Tuesday (November 26, 2024) in Kurram district, bordering Afghanistan, in  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

At least 10 people died and 21 others injured in the sporadic tribal sectarian violence, police said.

The clashes between Alizai and Bagan tribes in Kurram district started on Friday (November 22, 2024) last week following Thursday’s (November 21, 2024) attack on a convoy of passenger vans near Parachinar in which 47 people were killed. At least 37 people were killed and several others injured in the tribal sectarian violence over Friday (November 22, 2024) and Saturday (November 23, 2024), police said.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s (November21, 2024) convoy attack.

A seven-day cease-fire was brokered between the Shia and Sunni communities on Sunday (November 24, 2024) following meetings between a provincial government delegation and elders from both sects.

However, despite the cease-fire, sporadic clashes are continuing, police said.

There was sporadic fighting on Tuesday in Ghozaghari, Matasanagar and Kunj Alizai areas.

Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud said that a grand jirga (tribal council) comprising elders from Hangu, Orakzai and Kohat districts will visit Kurram for fresh mediation to end hostilities.

Kohat division Commissioner will lead the peace delegation, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mir Hassan Khan, Superintendent of the Kurram district headquarters hospital, said the closure of roads leading to Parachinar following Thursday’s (November 21, 2024) attack has resulted in a shortage of medicines.

It is becoming difficult for doctors to treat people due to shortage of medicines and “people are losing their lives”, he said.

Shia Muslims make up about 15% of the 240 million people in Sunni-majority Pakistan. Although the two groups generally live together peacefully, tensions remain, especially in Kurram.

Although the area has a history of sectarian conflict, with militant groups previously targeting the Shiite minority, the current violence is connected to a land dispute.