Ceasefire announced after sectarian clashes leave over 100 dead in northwestern Pakistan

The local administration in northwestern Pakistan's Kurram tribal district announced a 10-day ceasefire on Wednesday after rival communities agreed to end a week-long spate of sectarian violence that left more than 100 people dead and dozens injured.

Kurram, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border, has a significant Shia population in Pakistan's Sunni-majority landscape. The district has witnessed decades of clashes between the two communities.

The latest violence erupted last Thursday when two convoys of Shia Muslims, traveling under police escort, were ambushed. At least 45 people were killed in the attacks.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Deputy Commissioner Kurram Javeed Mehsud told Nukta that a jirga of tribal elders and local officials successfully mediated the truce on the direction of the Chief Secretary.

"Both sides will vacate all violations tomorrow after 10 a.m., and police along with army personnel will be deployed," Mehsud said.

An earlier seven-day ceasefire, brokered by provincial officials over the weekend, failed to hold. Mehsud attributed the failure to both sides violating the agreement twice by refusing to release prisoners, which escalated the clashes.

"This time, both sides have agreed to release all prisoners, and no one will go against the agreement," he added.

Mehsud confirmed that 80 people had died and 180 were injured in the recent clashes, in addition to the 45 killed in last week's convoy attack.

"Thirty to 40 injured are still under treatment in hospitals, while others have been discharged after receiving adequate care," he said.

People mourn over the graves of relatives who were killed after gunmen opened fire on passenger vehicles in the Kurram tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in Shalozan, Pakistan November 22, 2024. Reuters

A local government official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, had earlier reported ongoing intermittent gunfire in the area.

"Local tribal elders are continuing negotiations, and it is expected the ceasefire will take effect either today or tomorrow," the official had said.

Kurram, previously part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas until its merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018, has been a hotspot for sectarian violence. Police often struggle to maintain control in the region.

Last month, at least 16 people, including three women and two children, were killed in sectarian clashes in Kurram. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that 79 people died in similar violence between July and October.

KP CM reviews Kurram situations

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur chaired a high-level meeting on the Kurram sectarian clashes, with Chief Secretary, IGP, and Additional Chief Secretary for Home Affairs in attendance.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the latest situation in Kurram, highlighting that a 10-day ceasefire has been agreed upon between the feuding parties. The briefing noted that negotiations for a peaceful resolution to the conflict are ongoing.

To maintain peace, law enforcement personnel will be deployed at all key locations in the district. Officials also informed the Chief Minister that damage assessments will be conducted to address the losses incurred during the clashes.

Security plans and SOPs are being finalized to ensure safe movement within the area, they added.

"The ceasefire is a positive step towards restoring peace in Kurram," Gandapur said, emphasizing the need for sustained dialogue to resolve disputes and establish long-term harmony in the region.

He directed officials to expedite compensation for financial losses incurred by affected communities and ensure prompt disbursement of financial aid to the families of those who lost their lives in the violence.

"Establishing lasting peace in the region is the provincial government’s top priority," Gandapur said. "All available resources will be utilized to achieve this goal."

– Reporting by Kamran Ali in Peshawar