Clashes erupt in Pakistan over property dispute, leaving dead and injured

At least five people have died in clashes between tribes over disputed land in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where a building was constructed.

The initial confrontation occurred in Kurram district on September 20 evening and reignited on September 22, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The violent conflict involved heavy weaponry, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. Local leaders have urged authorities to take action to end the violence. Social media reports that the clashes involved Shia and Sunni tribes, suggesting that the death toll and number of injuries could be significantly higher.

A significant conflict that began in 2007 persisted for several years, ultimately concluding in 2011 through the intervention of a jirga, or council of tribal elders. However, fresh clashes erupted over a property dispute in July 2024, resulting in 38 deaths and 158 injuries in the same district. According to Kurram police, the conflicting tribes employed both heavy and small arms to attack each other's positions over the past three days, disrupting traffic on multiple routes, including the Parachinar-Peshawar highway. 

Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud reported that tribal leaders, security officials, and district administrators are working to resolve the conflict through negotiations. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has directed police and local authorities to facilitate a ceasefire through a jirga. "For the past year, law and order issues have persisted in Kurram and need to be permanently addressed," Gandapur stated. 

He suggested forming a committee with members from national and provincial assemblies, local elders, and law enforcement to engage the warring tribes and find a lasting solution. Security expert Said Nazeer Mohmand said that the involvement of "foreign elements" and spreading rumours significantly contributed to the rise in sectarian tensions in this religiously sensitive district.

By Naila Huseynova