Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a helicopter carrying a delegation from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which was en route to Kurram’s Parachinar on Saturday, as new sectarian violence in the region killed at least 30 people.
But KP Law Minister Aftab Alam refuted such reports as “unverified” and added that no such incident occurred. In a statement, he said that the government delegation “is completely safe.”
The violence comes in the wake of a deadly assault on Thursday, when a convoy of approximately 200 vehicles was heavily fired upon in Kurram’s crowded Bagan town, resulting in at least 43 fatalities and 16 injuries.
Both the helicopter and the government officials on board remained safe from the attack.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also scheduled to visit Parachinar to offer condolences to the families of those killed in the recent violence. But his trip has been postponed due to “adverse” weather conditions.
The delegation comprises the provincial law minister, chief secretary, Kohat Division commissioner, Kohat deputy inspector general of police and other high-level officials.
Recommendations would be forwarded to the chief minister, KP Law minister Aftab Alam said in a statement and added that all the departments concerned are making efforts to improve the law and order situation in Kurram.
In response to the rising incidents of terrorism, including the recent tragedy in Kurram, the Awami National Party has announced a day of mourning across the province on November 25.
Tensions escalated between rival factions in the Bagan and Lower Alizai areas of Lower Kurram, leading to an intense armed conflict that is still ongoing. Both sides have targeted each other with heavy and automatic weapons, local reports said.
“Around 7pm, a group of enraged individuals attacked the Bagan Bazaar,” a senior police officer stationed in Kurram told AFP.
“After firing, they set the entire market ablaze and entered nearby homes, pouring petrol and setting them on fire. Initial reports suggest over 300 shops and more than 100 houses have been burned,” he said.
Locals “also fired back at the attackers”, he added.
Javedullah Mehsud, a senior official in Kurram said there were “efforts to restore peace … [through] the deployment of security forces” and with the help of “local elders”.
The situation became volatile after an armed attack on a convoy of travellers on November 21, which resulted in the deaths of 43 people, including seven women and three children.
As night fell, both factions launched assaults against each other, causing significant damage to shops and homes in the area. Gunfire continued to exchange across multiple locations, including Upper Kurram’s Kanj Alizai and Maqbal, as well as Lower Kurram’s Balash Khel, Kharkalay, and between Lower Alizai and Bagan.
Recent tribal clashes have resulted in the deaths of 30 individuals and injuries to over 100, according to the police. The use of heavy and automatic weapons has instilled widespread fear across various locations, prompting a rapid exodus from multiple villages.
Sources said that several families have already reached Tal while others are fleeing from Balash Khel, Kharkalay, and Alizai. The escalating violence has led to a humanitarian crisis as residents seek safety amid the chaos.
In response to the tense situation in Kurram, government officials have arrived in Parachinar. They are set to engage with tribal leaders to negotiate a ceasefire and work towards establishing lasting peace and security in the area.
According to district administration, Major General Zulfikar Ali Bhatti, the GOC of 9 Division Kohat, has arrived in the area where a crucial jirga is expected to take place at the Governor’s Cottage.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Parachinar is sombre, with all businesses closed in mourning. Educational institutions across Kurram have also been completely shut down.
The only road connecting Parachinar to other districts has been closed since October 12, leading to severe hardships for the residents of Upper Kurram. The closure has caused a significant shortage of essential goods, including food and medications, exacerbating the already dire situation in the area.
After Thursday’s attacks, thousands of people took to the streets in various cities on Friday.
Several hundred people demonstrated in Lahore and Karachi.
In Parachinar, thousands participated in a sit-in, while hundreds attended the funerals of the victims.
The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urged authorities this month to pay “urgent attention” to the “alarming frequency of clashes” in the region, warning that the situation has escalated to “the proportions of a humanitarian crisis.”
“The fact that local rival groups clearly have access to heavy weaponry indicates that the state has been unable to control the flow of arms into the region,” HRCP said in a statement.
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Last month, at least 16 people, including three women and two children, were killed in a sectarian clash in the district.
Previous clashes in July and September killed dozens of people and ended only after a jirga, or tribal council called a ceasefire. HRCP said 79 people died between July and October in sectarian violence.
These clashes and attacks come just days after at least 20 soldiers were killed in separate incidents in the province.
(With input from AFP)
