Five more killed in Kurram clashes

PARACHINAR: Another five people were killed and 12 others sustained injuries in the ongoing clashes between rival tribes in Kurram tribal district.

With the latest deaths, the number of the dead has jumped to 46 over the past one week. A total of 91 people were injured in the clashes so far.

The violence, which erupted over a land dispute between the Boshera and Ahmadzai tribes, has spread across several areas, including Piwar, Teri Mangal, Sadda, Balishkhel, Khar Killay, Sangina, and Chamkani. Schools and bazaars remained closed as the region struggled with the fallout from the conflict. The use of heavy weaponry, including rockets, and mortars, has intensified the situation. In one of the latest incidents, an ambulance carrying a body from Peshawar to Parachinar under government security came under fire in the Bagan area in lower parts of Kurram.

The attack left one person injured, while Frontier Corps (FC) personnel escorting the ambulance retaliated, wounding two assailants. Local social figure Mir Afzal Khan Turi urged the warring tribes to resolve their issues through dialogue rather than using violence. “We must sit together and solve our problems through negotiation,” he said in a statement.

The conflict reportedly began a week ago in Boshera over the construction of fortifications on Ahmadzai land, quickly escalating into widespread violence across the district. Despite multiple ceasefire attempts, including efforts by tribal elders from the Turi and Bangash tribes, the fighting has continued.

MNA Jalal Hussain, Engineer Hamid Hussain, Saleem Khan and Malik Fakhr Zaman asked the government to take urgent action to halt the violence. They asked for efforts to broker a ceasefire and end the bloodshed.

Deputy Commissioner, Kurram, Javedullah Mehsud, said the district authorities, along with local elders, had been working tirelessly to end the conflict and restore peace. “We will make another push for a ceasefire today,” Mehsud said.