Death toll rises to 46 in tribal clashes in northwestern Pakistan

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - The death toll from ongoing tribal clashes in northwestern Pakistan has climbed to 46, local officials reported on Friday.

At least five additional fatalities were recorded as fighting in various areas of Kurram district, near the Afghan border, entered its eighth day, according to local administration official Rajab Ali.

Kurram district, known for its scenic tourist spots in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, borders Afghanistan.

The conflict erupted last week over the construction of bunkers on land belonging to a rival tribe.

"So far, 16 dead and 78 injured have been brought to our hospital during the past week," Dr. Gul Rahim, medical superintendent at Sadda Tehsil Hospital, told Anadolu over the phone.

The remaining 32 dead and over 80 injured were transferred to the district headquarters hospital in Parachinar and other private facilities in the area over the past eight days.

Residents in the area reported that roads, markets, and schools have remained closed since the fighting began, leaving thousands confined to their homes due to heavy gunfire.

"We are demanding that the government use all its resources for an immediate ceasefire, as people from both sides are affected," local tribal elder Mir Afzal Khan Turi told reporters in Parachinar.

On Wednesday, Sajid Turi, a former lawmaker from Kurram and a member of the Jirga -- a traditional council of elders tasked with conflict resolution -- stated that the warring sides, consisting of Shia and Sunni factions, had agreed to a ceasefire; however, gunfire continued in the area.

"Local administration is closely working with the Jirga and hopes both sides will reach a ceasefire agreement soon," said Javidullah Mehsud, the deputy commissioner of the district administration.

Located approximately 218 kilometers (135 miles) from the provincial capital Peshawar, Kurram district has a history of tribal and sectarian clashes. The town of Parachinar is one of the few Shia-dominated areas in predominantly Sunni Pakistan. In July, at least 43 people were killed and another 180 injured during a days-long tribal conflict over a land dispute in Kurram.