At least 36 people have been killed, and over 80 injured in six days of violent clashes between warring tribes in Pakistan’s restive Kurram district, according to police reports.
The district, which borders Afghanistan, has been engulfed in conflict over a land dispute, despite attempts by local authorities and tribal elders to broker peace.
The violence erupted between rival tribes over a piece of disputed land.
Despite efforts from the government and local jirgas (tribal councils), the conflict has intensified, spreading to multiple areas, including Balishkhel, Sadda, Khar Kallay, Peewar, and Maqbal—some of which are in proximity to Afghanistan's ISIS and Taliban strongholds.
“So far, 36 people have been killed and 80 others injured in clashes over the last six days,” said a police official on Thursday, as the unrest entered its sixth day. However, locals report the death toll could be much higher than official estimates.
The warring sides have resorted to heavy gunfire, using both small and large-scale weapons, leading to an escalation of violence. The renewed clashes have paralised much of Kurram, with main roads like the Parachinar-Peshawar route blocked, cutting off the district from essential supplies like food, medicine, and fuel.
Local authorities have called for an immediate ceasefire to ease the situation. Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud confirmed that district officials, police, and military personnel are working alongside tribal elders to bring about peace, though progress remains slow.
"We are working tirelessly to bring an end to this conflict. Jirga members have been dispatched to mediate between the tribes,” Mehsud added.
Despite these efforts, the conflict shows little sign of abating. Fighting has engulfed Upper, Lower, and Central tehsils of the district, with fresh exchanges of gunfire reported as recently as Thursday.
Schools have remained closed for six days, while the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border crossing has also been shut, further worsening the situation.
Kurram, located in Pakistan’s volatile northwestern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has a long history of tribal and sectarian violence.
In July, at least 50 people were killed, and more than 225 were injured in a week-long series of clashes between the Boshehra and Maleekhel tribes over a similar land dispute. The violence had spiraled into sectarian strife before a peace agreement was brokered by tribal elders.
Meanwhile, the Kurram Bar Association has filed a case in local court, demanding action against the tribal clashes and the lawlessness plaguing the region, which has made life unbearable for its residents.
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