By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A decades-long land dispute between two tribal groups in the northwestern part of Pakistan has escalated into an armed battle, claiming at least 35 lives and leaving 151 injured since Wednesday, officials said Sunday.
The conflict has also been described as sectarian violence between the Sunni Madagi and Shia Mali Khel tribes, with 30 of the killed belonging to the minority Shia sect.
The violence has spread across the district, with both sides targeting each other’s villages using small and heavy weapons.
The conflict began when a gunman opened fire at a council negotiating the dispute over farmland in the Boshehra and Malikhel areas of Kurram district, reigniting longstanding tensions between the clans. Despite efforts by the government and local leaders to halt the fighting through tribal councils (jirgas), the violence has continued.
The rival tribes have been using rocket launchers, mortars, and small-range missiles, causing widespread destruction.
The clashes have focused around the town of Parachinar, which has been blockaded by law enforcement. The area remains volatile, with ongoing firing and suspended traffic on main roads.
Kurram, part of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, has struggled with enforcing the rule of law since its merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2018. The region’s traditional tribal honor codes and inter-family feuds have contributed to the protracted and violent nature of the conflict.
Hospital officials in Parachinar reported 31 dead bodies and around 150 injured, with some serious cases in need of immediate transportation to Peshawar or other cities for critical medical treatment. However, the single road linking Parachinar to the rest of the country has been closed for almost a week, leading to a shortage of essential items, medicines, and petroleum products.
Schools in the area have been closed indefinitely due to the dire security situation.
“The government and local leaders are attempting to halt the fighting through jirgas, but have not yet succeeded,” said local police official Murtaza Hussain.
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