Pakistani officials have announced a seven-day ceasefire in Kurram district, located in the northwest of the country, after intense sectarian violence that has left at least 82 dead and 156 others injured. The conflict, which has primarily involved clashes between Sunni and Shia communities, escalated earlier this week with attacks on Shiite Muslim convoys, resulting in significant casualties.
The ceasefire agreement, which includes the exchange of prisoners and the return of bodies, was reached after talks between provincial government representatives and both the Sunni and Shia communities. Muhammad Ali Saif, spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, confirmed the temporary halt in fighting. Efforts are also underway to locate and return up to 20 missing people from both sides.
The violence began on Thursday when two Shiite Muslim convoys, traveling under police escort, were ambushed, killing at least 43 people. This sparked two days of gun battles, which have now claimed the lives of 82 individuals, with the majority being Shia. Many families have fled the region as gunfights continue, and mobile networks have been suspended.
This latest round of violence is part of an ongoing sectarian conflict in Kurram, a region with a significant Shiite population despite Pakistan being a Sunni-majority country. The violence has been difficult to control, even after the region’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2018. Efforts to address the root causes of the conflict are expected to begin once the ceasefire holds.
