Pakistan –
The number of deaths from the sectarian conflict in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district has increased, with two more people killed and ten others wounded in recent shooting incidents. The death toll from the violence now stands at 124.
The cycle of violence has entered its tenth day, with the main Peshawar-Parachinar highway closed still for traffic. The road blockade has brought daily life in the region to a standstill.
The Kurram region is experiencing a loss of communication, as mobile and internet services have been halted and schools are closed. Efforts to reestablish peace are reportedly in progress, with Deputy Commissioner Javed Ullah Mehsud noting that negotiations are currently taking place with representatives from both conflicting parties.
“We are hopeful for progress on a ceasefire and reopening of transport routes,” he told the media on Friday.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has accused the provincial government of being complicit in the violence by remaining silent on the issue. He also requested Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who is from the PPP, to provide a detailed report on the situation.
Tensions have persisted since November 21. A 10-day truce was negotiated earlier this week, but ongoing outbreaks of violence have undermined its effectiveness.
The latest round of fighting started ten days ago with attacks on two separate convoys protected by police, leading to 52 fatalities on the first day. Since then, clashes between the opposing factions have intensified, and police forces are having difficulty maintaining order.
