Feuding communities in northwest Pakistan agreed to a new 10-day ceasefire on November 27, 2024, as the death toll from a week-long spate of violence rose to 111, officials said.
“A ten-day ceasefire between the warring parties in Kurram has come into effect as of today,” the office of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said in a statement.
The truce came after a day of continuing hostilities, with provincial officials saying that the death toll from the latest spate of violence had climbed to 111, including 79 Shias and 32 Sunnis. Another 88 people were injured.
Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country, but the Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has a large Shiite population. These communities have clashed for decades.
Authorities reported overnight clashes in Lower Kurram, resulting in one fatality and four injuries, along with continued gunfire and arson incidents in various parts of the region.
Despite partial adherence to the ceasefire terms—such as the release of five female hostages and the return of two bodies—sporadic violence persists.
Officials are working to stabilize the situation, but the political leadership, expected to lead efforts toward a permanent resolution, remains notably absent.
The unrest began on November 21 when a convoy of passenger vehicles was ambushed in Lower Kurram, killing at least 39 people in an attack believed to be retaliation for a prior incident on October 12. Since then, the number of fatalities has climbed as critically injured individuals succumbed to their wounds, with 63 others sustaining injuries in the clashes.
On November 24, a provincial government delegation mediated a temporary ceasefire between the warring factions, securing agreements for hostages’ release and the return of bodies. However, one group reportedly refused to release all hostages.
Gunfire continued in areas like Alizai, Bagan, Khar Kalay, and Baleechkhel, while markets and educational institutions remained closed for a fifth consecutive day. Annual FSc exams in the district were postponed indefinitely, confirmed Muhammad Hayat Khan, head of the private school teachers’ association.
The district, bordering Afghanistan, has long been a flashpoint for sectarian violence, often exacerbated by land disputes. Although a government land commission submitted its findings, the report remains unpublished due to sectarian sensitivities. Kurram’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018 has done little to mitigate violence, with police struggling to restore order.
Efforts to broker peace are ongoing, with provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi stating, “Our priority is to achieve a ceasefire before addressing the underlying issues.” However, escalations are a grim reminder of past clashes that claimed dozens of lives, including 79 fatalities between July and October, as noted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Protests against the violence were held in Lahore and Karachi on November 22, highlighting the nationwide concern over the continuing bloodshed in Kurram.