Death count turned to 43 in Pakistan sectarian attacks

The death toll from two sectarian attacks in northwest Pakistan’s Kurram district has risen to 43, officials confirmed on Friday, as authorities imposed a curfew and suspended mobile services in the tense region.

Gunmen targeted two separate convoys of Shiite Muslims traveling under police escort in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghanistan border, an area with a history of sectarian violence.

Javed Ullah Mehsud, a senior administration official, confirmed the updated death toll, noting that the victims included seven women and three children. He added that 16 people were injured, 11 of whom are in critical condition.

A senior police officer corroborated the death toll, highlighting the devastating impact of the attacks.

In response, authorities imposed a curfew and shut down mobile signals across the district, describing the situation as “extremely tense.”

Residents of Parachinar, the district’s main town, held a sit-in protest to demand justice and enhanced security measures.

“A curfew has been imposed on the main road connecting Upper and Lower Kurram, and the bazaar remains completely closed, with all traffic suspended,” a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity.

Kurram district has experienced renewed clashes between Sunni and Shiite Muslim tribes in recent months.

Previous outbreaks in July and September resulted in dozens of deaths and were quelled only after tribal councils, or jirgas, brokered ceasefires.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the attacks, attributing the violence to government inaction.

“The frequency of such incidents confirms the failure of the federal and provincial governments to protect the security of ordinary citizens,” the HRCP said in a statement. Officials expressed condolences and assured efforts to restore peace through local jirgas. Steps are underway to convene tribal leaders to mediate and prevent further escalation