PESHAWAR – Sectarian violence in Pakistan’s north-western Kurram district has claimed over 130 lives despite a tentative ceasefire brokered last week, local officials confirmed. The district, bordering Afghanistan, has long been a flashpoint for Sunni-Shia tensions, with the latest clashes escalating into deadly confrontations over the past month.
District administration official Wajid Hussain reported that 133 people have died in the ongoing violence, with 43 killed in an initial attack targeting Shia drivers and the remainder in retaliatory clashes. “Efforts to stop fighting between the two communities are ongoing, but no breakthrough has been achieved yet,” Hussain said.
Ceasefire and Government Response
A Pakistani government team facilitated a seven-day ceasefire between the rival groups last Sunday, but sporadic violence has persisted. Armed Sunni and Shia groups in the district have a history of tribal and sectarian disputes, often centered on land.
Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, visited the area on Saturday to meet tribal elders and leaders, warning that armed individuals would face harsh consequences. “Anyone who takes up arms will be treated as a terrorist, and their fate will be that of a terrorist,” Gandapur stated. Security forces have been deployed to maintain order in the region.
Humanitarian Challenges and Medical Crisis
The violence has disrupted access to the main highway connecting Kurram’s capital, Parachinar, to Peshawar, complicating efforts to transfer the wounded to larger hospitals.
“Our medical team is working around the clock due to difficulties in referring patients,” said Dr. Syed Mir Hassan from Parachinar’s district hospital. He reported that the facility is treating around 100 injured patients and has received 50 bodies since the clashes began.
Authorities continue to work toward restoring peace in the region, but the protracted violence highlights the deep-rooted sectarian tensions in Kurram.