Violence in Pakistan continues, as 18 killed in Shia-Sunni sectarian clashes

On Saturday Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region plunged into further violence, as 18 more people were killed and another 30 injured in fresh clashes. The violence follows Thursday’s deadly attack, when a convoy of around 200 vehicles carrying families of minority Shia groups came under heavy gunfire in Kurram’s densely populated Bagan town, killing at least 43 people and injuring 16 others. While the violent clashes are continuing in other areas.

The clashing tribes are targeting each other with heavy automatic weapons. So far, 18 people have been killed and 30 injured in the clashes. Independent and media sources are reporting more than 30 deaths in the clashes. Homes and shops have also been damaged in the fighting. People from various villages have fled to safer locations. Due to the deteriorating situation, all educational institutions in the district remain closed on Saturday.

Only on Thursday, over 50 passenger vehicles had been fired upon at Bagan, Manduri, and Ochhat. Six vehicles were directly hit in the firing, eventually resulting in the deaths of 47 people, including women and children. The vehicles were travelling in a convoy from Parachinar to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most of the victims belonged to the Shia community.

Shia Muslims are a minority in Pakistan making up about 15 per cent of the total population. Pakistan has a long history of sectarian animosity between the two communities. Tensions between the communities have existed for decades in some areas, especially in parts of Kurram, where Shias dominate. Nearly 50 people from the two sides were also killed over a land dispute in July when clashes between Sunni and Shias erupted.

Post the attacks, businesses, educational institutions and markets had remained closed across the surrounding areas on Friday. An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that mobile signals across the Kurram district had been shut down, describing the situation as “extremely tense”. The official also said a curfew had been “imposed on the main road connecting Upper and Lower Kurram”. Thousands of people participated in a sit-in in Parachinar, where protesters criticised the government’s failure to protect civilians. Hundreds also demonstrated in Lahore and Karachi. Funerals for the victims, were held in their respective villages.

Tensions have existed for decades between armed Shia and Sunni Muslims over a land dispute in the tribal area that borders Afghanistan. Sunni and Shia Muslim tribes have clashed repeatedly this year. In September, more than 50 people were killed and 120 others injured in clashes spread over eight days between Shia and Sunni tribes over a piece of land in Kurram district. The series of attacks ended after a tribal council called for a ceasefire, according to Reuters news agency.

The minority Shia community has also been the target of many terror attacks in Pakistan over the years. The region of Khyber has a number of anti Shia groups like the Islamic State and the TTP. Now the intensity of clashes is worsening with the entire region becoming a danger zone for the common civilian. The areas of Khyber and Balochistan remain on the boil as the Pakistan administration seems completely unable to manage the regions.