16 Killed in Pakistan’s Fresh Northwest Sectarian Clash

A fresh sectarian clash in Pakistan‘s northwest has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people, including three women and two children, according to local officials. The violence occurred in the Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, an area known for its history of bloody confrontations between Sunni and Shiite Muslim tribes.

The latest incident involved a convoy of Sunnis traveling under the protection of paramilitary soldiers, which came under attack on Saturday. As a result, 14 people, including the three women and two children, were killed, and six others were wounded. Frontier police responded to the attack and killed two of the attackers, who were identified as Shiites.

This recent violence follows a series of clashes in the region, including incidents in July and September that killed dozens of people. These clashes were only brought under control after a tribal council, known as a jirga, called for a ceasefire. However, the fragile peace was short-lived, and the area remains volatile due to ongoing land disputes and sectarian tensions.

The Kurram District has long been a hotspot for sectarian violence, with the Shiite community in Pakistan, a predominantly Sunni Muslim country, often facing discrimination and violence. The region’s remote location and adherence to traditional tribal honor codes exacerbate the complexity and violence of these feuds.

Authorities are currently attempting to broker a fresh truce to end the ongoing violence. The security situation in the region is further complicated by the broader uptick in militancy following the Taliban‘s return to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021.