By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-24 12:46:42 | Updated at 2024-11-24 14:29:25
1 hour ago
Government officials met with tribal leaders in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday to try to mediate a ceasefire between rival sectarian groups after days of clashes that have killed at least 68 people and injured dozens.
The clashes started after gunmen attacked convoys of civilian vehicles on Thursday, killing at least 40, mostly Shiite Muslims. That sparked retaliatory attacks against Sunni residents, with pitched battles between armed groups from both sides.
Armed Shiite and Sunni Muslims have engaged in tribal and sectarian rivalry for decades over a land dispute in Kurram district near the Afghanistan border.
A government delegation flew in to Parachinar – Kurram’s capital city – on Saturday to meet leaders of both sides, said Muhammad Ali Saif, information minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where Kurram is located.
The delegation met with Shiite leaders and stayed overnight to meet with Sunni leaders on Sunday to try to broker a ceasefire deal and then move to resolve the matter, he said in a statement.
“There have been positive developments in engagements with stakeholders,” he said.
