Escalating Sectarian Violence in Pakistan: 82 Dead in Recent Clashes

Peshawar – A violent sectarian conflict in northwest Pakistan has killed at least 82 people and injured 156 others over the last three days. The clashes involved Shia and Sunni communities.

Pakistan is primarily a Sunni-majority country, but Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has a significant Shia population, especially near the Afghanistan border.

The latest violence began on Thursday, November 21, when two Shia Muslim convoys, escorted by police, were ambushed. This attack resulted in the deaths of at least 43 people and sparked two days of armed fighting.

According to a local government official, “The clashes and attacks on the convoys on November 21, 22, and 23 resulted in 82 deaths and 156 injuries.” Of those killed, 16 were Sunni and 66 were Shia.

Around 300 families fled their homes on Saturday, November 23, as gunfire continued into the night. No new casualties were reported by Sunday morning. The official stated, “Cellular networks in Kurram are still disrupted, and traffic on the main roads is halted.”

Police have struggled to contain the violence in Kurram, which was semi-autonomous until it became part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018. A government delegation held talks with Shia leaders on Saturday and planned to meet with Sunni leaders on Sunday.

A security official in the provincial capital Peshawar noted that a negotiating helicopter was attacked upon arrival in the region, but no injuries occurred.

“Our priority now is to mediate a ceasefire between both sides. Once that is achieved, we can address the underlying issues,” said provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi.

Last month, at least 16 people, including three women and two children, died in sectarian clashes in Kurram. Previous fights in July and September killed dozens and ended only after a tribal council called for a ceasefire.

The Pakistan Human Rights Commission reported 79 deaths from sectarian violence between July and October. Hundreds protested against the violence on Friday in Lahore and Karachi, the two largest cities in Pakistan.