More than 80 people have been killed and 156 injured in three days of sectarian violence in Pakistan’s Kurram district near the Afghan border. Gunmen attacked Shia Muslim convoys under police escort on Thursday, killing over 40 people, including women and children.
The attack sparked revenge clashes between Shia and Sunni communities, displacing hundreds of residents from their homes as many flee to freezing mountains.
On Sunday, Sunni and Shia leaders agreed on a seven-day ceasefire following tense negotiations facilitated by the government. Despite the truce, fear looms over the renewal of violence in the region, which has often witnessed deadly sectarian conflicts.
The Kurram remains tense, communities fractured, and in dire need of lasting peace.