Sun Nov 24 19:15:02 UTC 2024: ## Seven-Day Truce Declared After Dozens Killed in Pakistan Sectarian Clashes
**Peshawar, Pakistan** – A seven-day truce has been declared between warring Sunni and Shia armed groups in Pakistan’s northwest Kurram district following days of intense clashes that left over 30 people dead. The violence, which began Thursday with attacks on civilian convoys killing at least 40 Shia Muslims, escalated into retaliatory attacks targeting Sunni Muslims. The conflict stems from a decades-long land dispute in the volatile region.
A mediation team, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government spokesperson Muhammad Ali Saif, secured the ceasefire after meeting with leaders from both sides amidst a virtual curfew. The agreement includes an exchange of prisoners and the return of bodies. Saif expressed hope the truce would quell ongoing smaller skirmishes in remote areas.
While the Pakistani government has yet to publicly identify the perpetrators of the initial attacks, Shia leaders are demanding the arrest of those responsible and compensation for victims, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandpur. Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi stated that addressing the underlying issues causing the conflict can begin once the truce is in effect.
The recent violence is just the latest eruption in a long history of sectarian conflict in Kurram. Last month alone, at least 16 people died in similar clashes. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported a staggering 79 deaths from July to October due to sectarian violence. Previous ceasefires, brokered by tribal councils, have proven temporary. Protests against the violence erupted in major cities like Karachi and Lahore following the recent bloodshed. The region, previously part of the semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas, has long presented a challenge to law enforcement since its merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.
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