Pakistan Hit by Sectarian Violence: 82 Dead in Just Three Days

Peshawar (The Uttam Hindu): At least 82 people have been killed and 156 others injured following three days of intense sectarian gunfights in northwestern Pakistan, according to local officials on Sunday. The deceased include 16 Sunni Muslims and 66 Shia Muslims, as reported by a local administration official in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, who requested anonymity.

Pakistan is predominantly a Sunni-majority country, but Kurram district, located near the Afghanistan border, is home to a significant Shia population. The area has witnessed sectarian clashes for decades. The recent violence erupted on Thursday when two separate convoys of Shia Muslims, traveling under police protection, were ambushed. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 43 people, which then sparked two days of gunfights between the rival communities.

Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi emphasized on Sunday that efforts are underway to broker a ceasefire between the opposing sides. He stated that once a ceasefire is in place, the focus will shift to addressing the deeper issues fueling the sectarian violence.