At least 35 dead in sectarian clashes in northwest Pakistan

Death toll rises to 43 in Thursday’s attack on a civilian convoy

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 23 (DPA/EP) –

At least 35 people have died this Saturday in a series of clashes between groups of Shia and Sunni Muslims in the Kurram district, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, within the framework of an increase in sectarian violence.

The Police have confirmed the number of fatalities and have indicated that the situation “is very tense” in the region, which has also witnessed the burning of hundreds of homes, businesses and properties in at least five towns by rival groups.

The clashes, which began overnight, took place several days after a deadly attack by unidentified people against a convoy of more than 200 civilian vehicles left 43 dead in the province.

The attack took place in the same municipality as the clashes this Saturday and also left around thirty people injured. However, there is still no evidence that reliably points to its authors.

Kurram is a mountainous region near the border with Afghanistan and is home to mainly Shiite communities, which are often the target of attacks by Sunni extremist groups.