PAKISTAN: Fresh sectarian violence in northwest Pakistan has displaced around 300 families and left at least 32 people dead, as tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslim communities escalate.
The clashes, which erupted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border, have resulted in the deaths of nearly 150 individuals over the past few months.
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Shiites muslims carrying play cards
On Saturday, local officials confirmed that 32 people—14 Sunnis and 18 Shiites—were killed, with 47 others injured in the ongoing fighting. This comes just days after gunmen attacked two Shiite passenger convoys in Kurram district, killing 43 people, including women and children, and leaving 11 others in critical condition. In retaliation, Shiite groups launched attacks on Sunni-dominated areas, setting fire to markets and homes in Bagan Bazaar, burning over 300 shops and more than 100 houses.
Shiites Muslims praying for their lost journalist
As violence continues to spread, approximately 300 families have fled their homes in search of safety, relocating to nearby cities such as Hangu and Peshawar.
Thousands more are preparing to escape the escalating unrest in Kurram, where sectarian strife has a long history of violence.
Human rights groups and local authorities are urging immediate action to restore peace in the region, with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan warning that the situation has reached humanitarian crisis levels due to the growing frequency and intensity of the clashes. Despite efforts by security forces and local elders to mediate, the conflict remains deeply entrenched, fueled by longstanding religious tensions and access to heavy weaponry.
