At least 14 people have been killed and 13 others injured as violent clashes escalate in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, the fighting, involving heavy weaponry, broke out last night.
The surge in violence follows the announcement of a temporary 7-day ceasefire agreement by Barrister Dr. Saif, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, along with the release of hostages in the district. The ceasefire came after a two-day visit by an official Jirga, which has since returned to Peshawar.
On November 24, clashes between rival groups in the villages of Kalu Kunj, Badshah Kot, and Bagan Bazar in Lower Kurram claimed 12 more lives. Armed assailants reportedly set fire to multiple homes, resulting in the deaths of innocent women, children, and the elderly.
In a separate tragic incident, a passenger van traveling between Peshawar and Kurram was attacked, leading to 38 fatalities and several others critically injured. The death toll in Lower Kurram has now reached 45.
Local authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner and DPO, have arrived at the affected areas, while the injured are being treated at a nearby hospital, according to SHO Yar Muhammad.
