Death toll rises to 8 in attack as warring parties call off peace deal in Pakistan's violence-hit district

The death toll from an attack on a relief convoy in Pakistan’s violence-hit Kurram district. in the northwest, has risen to eight, with nine others injured, authorities confirmed on Friday.

The ambush comes as warring parties in the sectarian violence-hit region say the peace deal signed following months of negotiations has collapsed, further exacerbating tensions.

The attack took place in the Bagan area, targeting a 35-vehicle convoy transporting essential food supplies to Parachinar, the district’s capital.

Allama Sheikh Fida Hussain Mazaheri, a prayer leader in Parachinar, declared the suspension of the peace agreement in the wake of the attack. "Vehicles were being looted, and people were dying while the government stood by as a mere spectator, therefore, from today onward, the implementation of the peace agreement is suspended," he said.

Mazaheri added that the agreement would remain inactive unless the government ensures road security. "If the situation remains unchanged, we will devise a firm and decisive strategy after three days," he warned.

This marks the second assault on aid convoys bound for the district, which has been isolated from the rest of the country for more than three months following the closure of its sole highway.

Police in Lower Kurram recovered the bodies of four drivers, identified as Imran Ali, Hassan Ali, Shahid Ali, and Tanveer Abbas. “The victims were tied up and appeared to have been tortured before being shot dead,” Sadda police told Nukta.

Officials said the drivers were members of the Shia community. "The bodies have been shifted to Alizai Hospital, where investigations are ongoing to confirm the motive behind the killings," police said.

Trucks torched, goods looted

Abdul Qasim, Station House Officer of the Ahmadi Shama Police Station, confirmed that chaos erupted after the attack, with local residents looting goods from the convoy. "Around 15 trucks were set ablaze after being plundered," he said.

Nazir Ahmed, president of the Traders Association in Parachinar, the capital of Kurram district, said the attack caused losses worth millions. “Over 30 trucks were looted, each carrying goods valued between PKR 1.5 million and PKR 10 million, while the cost of a single truck exceeds PKR 10 million," he explained.

Another trader leader, Haji Imdad, said that only two trucks managed to return safely to Thal, Hangu, out of the 35 involved in the convoy.

The attack claimed the lives of eight people, including a soldier from the Pakistan Army and one from the Frontier Corps. Nine injured individuals were initially treated at local hospitals before being referred to Peshawar for further care, according to the District Health Office.

Medical officials at Alizai Hospital confirmed the identities of the deceased drivers, adding that the severity of their injuries indicated torture.

The incident is the second assault on aid convoys in the district, raising alarm over the deteriorating security situation. Investigations into the attack are ongoing.

Crisis timeline

Situated strategically along the Afghanistan border, Kurram has long been a center of sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Its complex tribal structure and history of militant activity have made achieving lasting peace a persistent challenge.

The crisis intensified on November 21 last year when an attack on a convoy traveling from Parachinar to Peshawar left 43 dead, triggering retaliatory violence that claimed over 150 lives and injured 200 more while also shutting down the district's main highway.

By December 2024, the blockade had created severe shortages in Parachinar, with local health officials reporting 31 children had died due to medicine shortages. The crisis sparked nationwide protests, particularly from Pakistan's Shia community.

On December 20, 2024, the provincial apex committee on security gave both sides 15 days to sign an agreement, mandating the removal of all private bunkers and weapons to restore normalcy in the district.

On January 1, 2025, the Kurram Grand Jirga finalized a peace agreement with key stakeholders signing a 14-point accord, though some stakeholders refused to sign. The agreement included provisions for resolving land disputes, rehabilitating displaced residents, collecting weapons, dismantling bunkers, and enforcing strict action against hate speech.

Following the peace accord, the government announced the reopening of roads. However, before the main convoy could depart for Parachinar, the situation deteriorated when Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud's convoy was attacked in Bagan on January 4, leaving seven injured including the ex-DC.

After successful negotiations, the first aid convoy reached Parachinar on Jan 8.