For the past five days, the Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially its headquarters, Parachinar, has been engulfed in fierce tribal clashes. According to media reports, 20 people have been killed and 112 injured so far in the violence.
The root cause of the conflict, as reported by the media, is a land dispute between different tribes, some of which are Shia while others are Sunni. Mainstream media coverage of the situation has been limited, but social media has been abuzz with reports of the clashes and casualties. Some have labeled the violence as a sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni communities, even calling it a genocide against the Shia. However, there is no confirmation of these claims, and it remains unclear which sect has suffered more in the current clashes.
Kurram district, formerly known as Kurram Agency, and particularly Parachinar, has a history of sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni communities, which has resulted in numerous casualties on both sides. Social media users are referring to the current clashes as a sectarian war, though reports suggest that the immediate cause is a land dispute between the tribes rather than sectarianism.
Parachinar, located in the Kohat Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, borders Afghanistan. The clashes reportedly began about five days ago and have since spread to six different areas within the district. The conflict centers around a land dispute involving common property shared by various tribes, with some claiming exclusive ownership. Historically, such disputes have been resolved through local jirgas (tribal councils) or at the government level, but they continue to flare up, leading to violence.
Social media posts indicate that heavy weaponry, including missiles and rockets, has been used in the clashes. Reports suggest that missiles were fired at Parachinar city and Sada during the night between Friday and Saturday. Some sources have also claimed that Taliban fighters are involved in the conflict. Internet and mobile phone services have been suspended in the area, and the main highway is closed to traffic.
Local authorities have stated that the conflict began due to the land dispute, which escalated into clashes across various areas.
MNA Engineer Hameed Hussain has reported that the local hospital and markets have run out of medicines. Member of Provincial Assembly Ali Hadi Irfani has called on the government to take immediate steps to enforce a ceasefire.
Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafari, Chairman of Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen Pakistan, has accused those responsible for the unrest in Parachinar of wanting war instead of peace. In a press conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad, he stated that Kurram Agency is home to peaceful people, without arms factories or drug dens. He condemned the recent violence and criticized the provincial government and law enforcement agencies for failing to restore peace. He urged the government to act swiftly to end the conflict.
