Pakistan government mediators seek ceasefire as 68 killed in sectarian violence
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.
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 Shi’ite Muslims. That sparked retaliatory attacks against Sunni residents and there have been pitched battles between armed groups from both sides.
Armed Shi’ite 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 main 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 Shi’ite 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.
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