More than 80 killed, dozens injured amid Pakistan sectarian violence
At least 82 people were killed and dozens were injured after days of clashes that began Thursday after gunmen attacked convoys of Shiite Muslims traveling under police escort. The incident sparked retaliatory attacks against Sunni residents and gunfights between groups from both sides. A Pakistani government team has managed to mediate a seven-day ceasefire deal between rival sectarian groups on Sunday, a team member said.
Three days of bitter sectarian gunfights in northwestern Pakistan have killed at least 82 people and wounded 156 more, a local official said Sunday.
Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country but Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province -- near the border with Afghanistan -- has a large Shiite population and the communities have clashed for decades.
The latest bout of violence began on Thursday when two separate convoys of Shiite Muslims travelling under police escort were ambushed, killing at least 43 and sparking two days of gun battles.
"Among the deceased 16 were Sunni, while 66 belonged to the Shia community," he told AFP.
(AFP)
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