Kurram Agency, November 24, 2024 – More than 80 people have been killed, and another 156 wounded, in three days of sectarian violence in northwest Pakistan, according to officials. The clashes occurred in the tribal district of Kurram, near the Afghan border.
The violence erupted on Thursday when gunmen attacked convoys of Shia Muslims traveling through the area under police escort. The ambush left more than 40 people dead, including women and children, and triggered a wave of retaliatory attacks.
Decades-long rivalries between Shia and Sunni Muslims over tribal and land disputes have fueled tensions in the region. On Sunday, a local official, speaking anonymously to AFP, confirmed: “The clashes and convoy attacks on November 21, 22, and 23 have resulted in 82 fatalities and 156 injuries.”
He reported that 16 of the deceased were Sunni, while 66 belonged to the Shia community. Saeeda Bano, a survivor of Thursday’s attack, recounted to BBC Urdu how she hid under car seats with her children, fearing for their lives.
The violence has forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes as fighting intensified on Friday and Saturday. Calls for a ceasefire have grown after months of escalating attacks, with tribal councils urging peace.
In response, provincial officials initiated negotiations with Shia and Sunni leaders on Saturday. However, a security official in Peshawar reported that the negotiators’ helicopter was fired upon upon arrival in the region, underscoring the precarious situation.
The violence highlights the enduring sectarian divide and the challenges of restoring peace in Kurram, where instability has claimed dozens of lives in recent months.
