Sectarian Clashes in Kurram, Pakistan

15 Dead, 25 Injured in Recent Violence

In Kurram district, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, recent sectarian clashes have resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and injuries to 25 others. The violence erupted two days after an attack on passenger vehicles, as reported by local media.

According to Samaa TV, the situation escalated in Lower Kurram when rival groups exchanged fire using heavy and automatic weapons. In response, educational institutions in the district have been closed, and residents have been advised to stay indoors due to high tensions.

The clashes reportedly began when Bushehra tribesmen attempted to build bunkers on lands belonging to the Ahmadzai tribals. This led to further violence in the Baleshkhel area, where heavy weaponry was used. Police sources indicated that one person was killed on Friday night, with four more deaths occurring on Sunday.

Earlier, on November 21, heavily-armed militants ambushed several passenger vehicles in Kurram, killing over 42 people and injuring 29 others. The attack took place in the Ochat area of Lower Kurram, targeting a convoy of approximately 200 vehicles traveling from Parachinar to Peshawar.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is part of ongoing sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni Muslim tribes in the region. The recent violence is attributed to a land dispute that has caused weeks of armed clashes, resulting in over 100 deaths between August and October.

Security forces have been deployed in the area, and the Parachinar-Peshawar highway remains closed, affecting farmers, travelers, and traders. The tense situation has brought normal life to a halt in the region.