Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Three more people have died in Kurram district of Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The province, the week-long sporadic violence took the death toll to 76, reports Dawn.
The latest casualties occurred in counter-attacks following a deadly attack on Thursday, which killed around 40 passengers traveling in a convoy in Mandori Charkhel area of Lower Kurram district.
Just two days after the ambush, another 21 people were killed in arson and firing in Bagan village, also in Lower Kurram.
Despite a ceasefire brokered by authorities on Sunday, sporadic fighting continues. Clashes resumed on Tuesday in areas like Ghozaghari, Matasanagar and Kunj Alizai, resulting in three more deaths and six injuries, officials reported.
Dawn quoted officials as reporting that three gunship helicopters were targeted by miscreants who infiltrated Chardeval and Jalme villages in Alizai area of Lower Kurram. However, no casualties have been reported yet.
Local authorities are trying to mediate the escalating conflict. Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud revealed that a grand jirga comprising elders from Hangu, Orakzai and Kohat districts would be sent to the violence-hit district to help end hostilities. The jirga will be headed by the Kohat Divisional Commissioner.
Meanwhile, the ongoing violence has also created a critical shortage of medicines in the region. District Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Mir Hasan Khan said the closure of roads leading to Parachinar has severely affected medical supply chains, Dawn reported.
“Due to the shortage of medicines, it is becoming difficult for doctors to treat the injured, and people are losing their lives,” he said.
Mahmood Khan, a local elder of Hamzakhel village, also expressed frustration at the provincial government, accusing top officials of abandoning the district after brokering a ceasefire on Sunday. He criticized the government’s failure to adequately address the growing violence, reports Dawn.
As the authorities try to restore peace, tensions run high as the two sides continue to clash, with the civilian population caught in the crossfire.
