Three days of intense sectarian violence in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, northwestern Pakistan, have resulted in at least 82 deaths and 156 injuries, according to local officials. The region, known for its diverse religious demographics, has been the epicenter of ongoing tensions between the predominantly Sunni population and the large Shiite community residing there, leading to a history of violent confrontations.
The latest surge of violence erupted on Thursday when two separate convoys of Shiite Muslims, escorted by police, were attacked. This ambush resulted in the deaths of at least 43 individuals, which ignited two days of fierce gun battles between the opposing sectarian groups. According to an anonymous local administration official, among the deceased, 66 were members of the Shiite community and 16 were from the Sunni community.
As the clashes intensified, approximately 300 families were forced to flee their homes on Saturday amidst continuous gunfire involving both light and heavy weaponry. By Sunday morning, while no new casualties were reported, the region remained tense. “The mobile network across Kurram remains suspended and traffic on the main highway is halted,” the official stated, highlighting the severe impact on communication and mobility in the area.
Despite consistent efforts by authorities to control the violence in Kurram—a region that was part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas until its merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018—the security situation has remained precarious. In an attempt to address the escalating conflict, a delegation from the provincial government engaged in discussions with the Shiite community on Saturday, with plans to meet Sunni representatives later in the day.
Compounding the situation, a security official disclosed that the helicopter carrying the negotiating team was fired upon upon its arrival in the area, though no injuries were reported. Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire between the two sects, stating, “Our priority today is to broker a ceasefire between both sides. Once that is achieved, we can begin addressing the underlying issues.”
This recent violence is not an isolated incident; last month, a sectarian clash in Kurram resulted in 16 fatalities, including women and children. Furthermore, previous violent encounters in July and September left dozens dead and only ceased when a tribal council, or jirga, intervened to broker peace. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recorded a troubling statistic: 79 individuals were killed in sectarian violence between July and October alone.
In response to the ongoing violence, protests erupted in major urban centers such as Lahore and Karachi, demonstrating widespread concern and dissent against the sectarian strife that continues to plague the nation. Community leaders and activists are calling for urgent interventions to restore peace and address the long-standing sectarian divides that have led to such devastating consequences in Kurram and beyond.
