Humanitarian crisis: Death toll in sectarian violence in Pakistan rises to 124
Two more people have been killed and 10 injured in ongoing sectarian violence in Kurram district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
Kurram district police have confirmed that a total of 124 people have been killed and 178 injured in the last 10 days of clashes.
Meanwhile, the communication system in Kurram region has been completely cut off due to the ongoing violence. Mobile and internet services have been suspended and educational institutions have been closed.
Daily life and trade activities are being disrupted as the Peshawar-Parachinar highway is blocked. The local administration is trying to hold talks with representatives of both sides to establish peace in the region.
Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javed Ullah Mehsud said, we are hoping for progress in ending the violence and resuming transport links.
Meanwhile, two judges and 25 judicial officers are trapped in Parachinar due to the violence. The provincial government has offered to use helicopters to rescue them, but no action has been taken so far.
Background to the conflict
The situation in Kurram district has been tense since November 21. The conflict began with an attack on two convoys guarded by police, resulting in the deaths of 52 people on the first day.
A ten-day ceasefire agreement was previously agreed upon, but it has not seen the light of day.
Economic and humanitarian crisis
Meanwhile, trade with Afghanistan has been completely halted due to the blockade of the main highway due to violence, especially at the Kharlachi border. Local residents are facing a shortage of food and other essential goods.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said that 79 people died in the violence between July and October, reflecting the ongoing instability in the region.
Previous peace efforts
A high-level delegation including KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chowdhury and IGP Akhtar Hayat Gandapur held talks in Kurram last week for a ceasefire. However, despite the peace efforts, violence has resumed.
Experts believe that the long-term violence in Kurram region is heading towards a humanitarian crisis in the absence of a permanent solution. Source: Geo News
