PESHAWAR: At least 15 people have been killed in renewed clashes between two tribes in the Kurram district of northwestern Pakistan, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The violence, which erupted over a land dispute, has escalated into a sectarian conflict between Sunni and Shia tribes, reigniting tensions in a region already scarred by years of similar feuds.
According to a senior administrative official in Kurram, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the clashes have been ongoing since Saturday, with both sides employing heavy weapons, including mortar shells. “The conflict, initially over land, involves two tribes — one Sunni and the other Shia — and has now turned into a sectarian clash,” the official said.
The official toll stands at 15 dead, with local reports from the Associated Press of Pakistan suggesting that around 20 others have been wounded in the fighting.
Kurram’s History of Sectarian Clashes
Kurram, located near the Afghan border and part of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has a long and bloody history of tribal conflicts, often exacerbated by sectarian differences. The district, once part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), has witnessed periodic violence between Sunni and Shia communities, with hundreds of lives lost over the years.
In July, similar clashes between the same tribes resulted in the deaths of 35 people. The violence only ceased after a jirga (tribal council) intervened, brokering a temporary ceasefire. However, with the latest outbreak of violence, it is clear that the underlying land dispute and sectarian tensions have yet to be resolved.
Sectarian Tensions and Broader Implications
While land disputes and tribal feuds are common in Pakistan, particularly in the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the involvement of sectarian divides has made these conflicts even more dangerous and prolonged. The Sunni-Shia conflict in Kurram reflects broader sectarian tensions in Pakistan, where the minority Shia community often reports facing discrimination and violence in a predominantly Sunni Muslim country.
Officials are once again attempting to mediate between the warring factions, hoping to secure another truce through a jirga or official negotiations. However, the recurrence of such deadly clashes raises concerns about the long-term stability of the region, where traditional tribal honor codes and sectarian allegiances make conflict resolution especially challenging.
The situation in Kurram remains tense, with the potential for further violence unless a lasting peace agreement can be brokered.
