Taiwo Popoola
More than 80 people have been killed and 156 wounded in three days of sectarian violence in Pakistan’s tribal district of Kurram, near the Afghan border, authorities confirmed.
The violence, which began on Thursday, erupted when gunmen attacked convoys of Shia Muslims travelling under police escort.
More than 40 people, including women and children, were killed in that incident, triggering a series of revenge attacks between Shia and Sunni communities.
After Sunday’s negotiations, government spokesman Muhammad Ali Saif announced that Sunni and Shia leaders had agreed to a seven-day ceasefire.
Provincial officials facilitated the talks despite reports that the negotiators’ helicopter came under fire upon arriving in the region.
“The clashes and convoy attacks on November 21, 22, and 23 have resulted in 82 fatalities and 156 injuries,” a local official said on Sunday. Among the dead, 16 were Sunni and 66 were Shia, according to local authorities.
The Kurram district has long been a flashpoint for tribal and sectarian conflicts over land disputes, with periodic violence between Shia and Sunni groups.
This week’s unrest has forced hundreds of residents to flee, many seeking refuge in the nearby mountains under freezing conditions.
“We’ve been hearing gunfire all night. I sent the women and children of my family to hide in the mountains. The cold is unbearable, but we have no other option,” one Sunni villager said.
This latest bout of bloodshed follows months of deadly clashes in the region, which had already prompted tribal leaders to call for a ceasefire.
October saw a mass funeral for victims of earlier violence, showing the ongoing tensions that have left communities fractured and in fear.
The provincial government has pledged to address the underlying issues fuelling the conflict, but the fragile ceasefire shows the urgent need for sustained peace-building efforts.
For now, the region remains on edge, with many fearing that the violence could resume once the temporary truce ends.
