Sectarian Clashes in Pakistan’s Kurram District Kill 82, 156 Injured In Three days

Peshawar, Nov 24, 2024 – At least 82 people have been killed and 156 others wounded in three days of intense sectarian violence in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local authorities confirmed on Sunday. The clashes, which have mainly involved Sunni and Shia Muslim communities, erupted on Thursday and have resulted in widespread bloodshed.

According to a local administration official, 16 of the deceased were Sunni Muslims, while 66 belonged to the Shia community. “The violence began when two separate convoys of Shia Muslims traveling under police escort were ambushed, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 people,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Kurram district, located near the border with Afghanistan, has a large Shia population, and sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia groups has been a long-standing issue in the region.

The violence has led to two days of fierce gunfights between the two communities. Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi said on Sunday that the priority is to broker a ceasefire between the conflicting groups. “Once a ceasefire is in place, we can address the underlying issues fueling the violence,” Afridi said.

The clashes have left the region on edge, with local authorities scrambling to restore peace and prevent further bloodshed. Efforts to mediate between the two sects are ongoing, but tensions remain high.