Gunmen killed 38 people and injured 11 others in two separate attacks in northern Pakistan’s Kurram district on Thursday, marking a grim continuation of sectarian violence in the region.
Officials reported that Sunni and Shiite Muslim tribes have been locked in sporadic fighting for months in the mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The violence occurred as two convoys of Shiite Muslims were traveling through Kurram under police escort. According to senior administration official Javed Ullah Mehsud, “The death toll has now risen to 38, including six women, several children, and police officers.” He added that around 10 attackers ambushed the convoys, firing from both sides of the road.
Local police confirmed the attackers’ brutality, explaining that women and children had sought refuge in nearby homes during the chaos. The authorities suspect the attacks stem from ongoing sectarian tensions, which have long plagued the region.
Ajmeer Hussain, a 28-year-old survivor, described the terrifying ordeal:
“Gunfire erupted suddenly, and I began reciting prayers, thinking my life was over. I laid down at the feet of two passengers sitting next to me. Both were struck by bullets and died instantly.” Hussain said the attack lasted about five minutes.
Increasing Sectarian Tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Sectarian violence has devastated Kurram for years, with hundreds killed in tribal clashes. Recent months have seen an escalation, with more than 70 deaths since July, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).
The HRCP called for urgent action, warning that the clashes have reached “the proportions of a humanitarian crisis.” Their statement noted that rival groups have easy access to heavy weaponry, highlighting a failure to control the flow of arms in the region.
Government Response
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks, calling them “sheer brutality” and a direct assault on innocent citizens. Despite his statement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen increasing violence, with ongoing clashes and retaliatory attacks.
In the past month alone, 16 people, including women and children, died in another sectarian clash in Kurram. Earlier incidents in July and September resulted in dozens of deaths, requiring tribal councils, or jirgas, to mediate temporary ceasefires.
Escalating Violence and Its Impact
The latest attacks come just days after 20 soldiers were killed in separate incidents in the province. Tribal feuds and sectarian disputes remain rampant, disproportionately affecting the Shiite community, which has historically faced violence and discrimination in Pakistan.
The rising violence underscores the urgent need for government intervention to prevent further loss of life and bring lasting peace to the region.
