The death toll from ongoing clashes in Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has risen to 88, despite earlier claims by the government of a ceasefire agreement in the violence-stricken region. The escalation of tribal tensions has left the area in turmoil, with no end in sight.
Violence erupted on Thursday after a convoy of around 200 vehicles came under heavy gunfire in Kurram’s densely populated Bagan town, resulting in at least 43 fatalities. Over the weekend, another 21 people were killed in separate clashes, bringing the total number of dead to 64.
In response to the growing violence, government officials visited Kurram on Saturday in an attempt to mediate the conflict. Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, the information advisor to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, announced that a seven-day ceasefire had been agreed between the warring Shia and Sunni tribes. The ceasefire was said to include an agreement to return each other’s bodies and prisoners. Saif also revealed plans for a high-powered commission to address land disputes between the tribes.
However, Kurram District Health Officer Dr. Qaisar Abbas confirmed to Dawn.com that the death toll had increased to 88, with 111 people injured since the violence began. Dr. Abbas noted that many of the injured remain in critical condition due to limited access to medical facilities.
PPP leader Sajid Hussain Turi told that government officials had met with both the Shia and Sunni tribes, and efforts were underway to restore peace in the region. However, Moin Hussain, a local village councillor, expressed concern that the situation had worsened. He stated that there was no confirmation of a ceasefire and that the efforts of the government delegation seemed ineffective on the ground.
“The efforts of the delegation that came are not visible on the ground,” Hussain said.
In response to the ongoing violence, local educational institutions have been closed, and the exams scheduled for today were postponed indefinitely, according to Muhammad Hayat Khan, President of the Education Union.
Meanwhile, mobile and data services have been suspended in the area, and all travel routes have been blocked. Clashes continued not only between the Alizai and Bagan tribes but also between the Baleechkhel and Kharkalay tribes in Lower Kurram, according to a correspondent from Dawn.com in the area.
Kurram, which borders Afghanistan, has long been a hotspot for sectarian tensions, often exacerbated by disputes over land ownership. Although a government-appointed commission had previously submitted findings on land issues, the report has yet to be published due to sectarian sensitivities.
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