Violence in Pakistan's Kurram district has intensified in recent days, with both the frequency and severity of clashes on the rise. The death toll in Kurram, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, rose to 90 on Thursday, as a ceasefire agreement failed to prevent hostilities.

According to Dawn, 12 people were killed in fresh clashes and 18 others were injured, with intermittent firing continuing in the area. The violence erupted last week when gunmen fired on a convoy of Shi'ite Muslims, killing more than 40 people. The deadly incident triggered retaliatory attacks on the Sunni Muslim community. 

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A seven-day ceasefire was announced on November 24. The agreement required both sides to vacate their trenches, allowing army and paramilitary forces to take control. During this period, the two groups were also expected to exchange bodies and hostages.

Sectarian Clashes In Kurram

Kurram, a district with a unique geography that juts into Afghanistan — often referred to as the ‘Parrot’s Beak’ — is located at the shortest distance from Kabul. The region is especially sensitive due to its sectarian dynamics, the presence of militant groups, and an abundance of heavy arms. 

Although Pakistan is predominantly Sunni, with Shi'ite Muslims comprising about 15 percent of its 240 million people, Kurram has a large Shi'ite population.

Decades of clashes, often over land disputes, have resulted in thousands of deaths in Kurram. Northwestern Pakistan, including Kurram, has long been a hotbed of militancy. The rise of Sunni and Shi'ite armed groups in the region has further aggravated sectarian tensions, according to experts.

Kurram has a deep history of sectarian tensions, dating back to before the partition of India. In 1938, when sectarian violence flared up in Lucknow, some tribesmen from Kurram planned to go there to support their respective sects. However, their movement was opposed by the rival sect in Kurram, laying the groundwork for future sectarian tensions.

After partition, the first sectarian conflict erupted in 1961 in Sadda during a Muharram procession. In 1971, clashes occurred over the construction of a mosque minaret in Parachinar. Subsequent sectarian conflicts occurred in 1987, 1996, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2020, 2022, and 2023, often for various reasons.

Shi'a groups claim that Sunni extremist factions — including the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State-Khorasan, and Lashkar-e Jhangvi — are attempting to either eliminate or expel them from Kurram. Many of these groups target Shi'a Muslims, whom they view as apostates. 

On the other hand, the Sunni community holds the Zainebiyoun Brigade, a Shi'ite militia composed of Pakistanis who fought in Syria, responsible for much of the violence in Kurram. Some members of this group, including those from Kurram, have returned in recent years.