By Abdul Adil
(Agencies): A tragic attack on a passenger van convoy in northwestern Pakistan resulted in the deaths of 42 Shi’a Muslims and left 18 others injured. The attack occurred on Thursday in the Mandori Charkhel area of Lower Kurram district, located within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The convoy, which consisted of 200 vehicles, was en route from Parachinar to Peshawar when it came under heavy gunfire at around 1:20 pm.
According to Salim Shah, a local police officer, the victims included seven women and a nine-year-old girl, with many others suffering injuries. Witnesses and survivors described a chaotic scene, with gunmen ambushing the convoy from both sides and indiscriminately spraying bullets. The attack lasted for about five minutes, during which many passengers were killed instantly.
The authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators of the attack, and no group has taken responsibility. However, local officials, including Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud, have suggested that the assault could be linked to a long-standing land dispute between Shi’a and Sunni groups in the region, rather than being part of broader sectarian or militant violence. The Kurram district is home to a large Shi’a Muslim population, which has been a frequent target of violence in the past.
Following the attack, there was a strong local response, with elders of the Shi’a community calling for unity and an end to the violence. This plea for resolution comes amid ongoing difficulties for local security forces, who are struggling to maintain order in the volatile region. The attack has also drawn widespread condemnation.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the killings.
This attack is part of a broader pattern of rising violence in Pakistan, which has seen numerous attacks in recent weeks, particularly targeting security personnel.
In the first three weeks of November alone, at least 55 security officers were killed. In response to this violence, the Pakistani military has been conducting counter-terrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, resulting in the deaths of seven suspected militants.
As the region grapples with this devastating loss, the priority for local authorities is managing the aftermath, which includes providing medical care for the injured and restoring normalcy. Meanwhile, protests and calls for justice are reverberating through the streets of Parachinar, as the Shi’a community seeks accountability for the attack and an end to the ongoing violence. The situation remains tense as authorities continue to investigate the motives behind the attack and work to prevent further bloodshed in the region.
[Map of Pakistan by CIA Factbook]
