At least 37 people have been killed and over two dozen others injured in tribal sectarian violence in northwest Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during the last 24 hours, police said on Saturday.
The clashes between Alizai and Bagan tribes in Kurram district, bordering Afghanistan, took place following Thursday's attack on a convoy of passenger vans near Parachinar in which 47 people were killed.
Gunfights persist in Balishkhel, Khar Kali, Kunj Alizai, and Maqbal, with heavy and automatic weapons reportedly being used by both sides. Reports from independent media suggest the death toll could exceed 30, as the violence continues to escalate.
The conflict has also led to widespread destruction, with several shops and homes damaged, prompting many families to flee to safer locations. Authorities have shut down all educational institutions in the district as a precautionary measure.
Thursday’s ambush targeted over 50 passenger vehicles travelling in a convoy from Parachinar to Peshawar, the provincial capital. Six vehicles were directly attacked, resulting in the deaths of 47 people, most of whom were women and children, according to police.
Authorities confirmed that the majority of the victims in the convoy attack belonged to the minority Shia community.
“The vehicles were travelling in a convoy when they came under fire,” said a police spokesperson.
Efforts to restore order are ongoing as the region grapples with its deep sectarian divide and recurring violence.
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