Politics Pakistan: Deaths in violence between Sunnis and Shiites

At least 35 people have been killed in an escalation of violence between Sunnis and Shiites in north-west Pakistan. Another ten people were injured, according to the local police. According to the authorities, this is one of the deadliest clashes between the Muslim faith groups in recent years.

According to the report, fierce firefights broke out on Saturday night in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. These are not yet over, the local police told the German Press Agency. The situation in the region remains very tense. Hundreds of stores, houses and properties in at least five villages have been set on fire by rival groups.

The police interpret the fighting as a reaction to the attack on a convoy on Thursday, in which at least 42 people died. In the attack, unknown assailants had opened fire on the vehicles, most of which were occupied by Shiites.

Violence breaks out again and again

In the Kurram region, there are repeated attacks on Shiites living there by Sunni groups. A district official told dpa that a council of tribal elders is trying to reach a peace agreement between the groups.

Overall, Pakistan is struggling with increasing violence by militant groups. In the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) in particular are repeatedly responsible for attacks, most of which are directed against security forces. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the country lost at least 55 soldiers in attacks of this kind in the first 20 days of November alone.

SDA