after deadly clashes between Sunnis and Shiites, the regional government announces a seven-day truce

In the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Kourram district has been the scene of sectarian violence for several months.

The government of the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, in the northwest of Pakistan, announced on Sunday, November 24, a one-week truce after three days of clashes between Sunnis and Shiites. “Both sides agreed to a seven-day ceasefire during which they will also exchange prisoners and return bodies”government spokesperson Mohammed Ali Saif said in a statement.

The human toll of these clashes has not been officially confirmed, but a local administration official told AFP “reports that 15 to 20 people from both sides are missing”with 82 dead and 156 injured. “Among the dead, 66 are Shiites and 16 Sunnis”specified on condition of anonymity this official of the district of Kourram, in the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, scene for months of sectarian violence.

Local officials reported to AFP “light and heavy weapon fire in different areas”. However, they say that no deaths or injuries have been reported since Saturday evening. Since July, the conflict between Sunnis and Shiites in Kourram, in the mountains bordering Afghanistan, has left more than 160 dead, according to corroborating sources at AFP.