Karachi: On November 21, 2024, an attack targeted passengers from the Shia community in the Parachinar area of Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The death toll has risen to over 40, with more than 30 people injured.
According to local media, Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsood stated that a convoy of 200 vehicles traveling from Parachinar to Peshawar came under heavy gunfire.
In the aftermath, locals reportedly set a military check post on fire, sources confirmed to The Wire. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Additionally, Sunni groups have denied involvement in the killings of Shia community members and strongly condemned the attack.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur have also condemned the attack.
Kurram District, which shares a border with Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, has frequently been targeted by banned terrorist groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Shia community has borne the brunt of such violence.
Mohsin Dawar, Chairman of the National Democratic Movement, spoke with The Wire, emphasizing the importance of understanding the unique nature of Kurram and the Parachinar area. He highlighted that Shia and Sunni communities have coexisted for centuries, resolving conflicts through traditional means. However, the proxy wars of recent decades have exacerbated tensions between them.
Jalal Hussain Bangash, Secretary of Anjuman-e-Hussainia Parachinar and a member of the victimized Shia community, told The Wire that the attack occurred despite the presence of security forces. He alleged that terrorists fired at community vans from the rooftops of houses.
“Who should we blame?” Jalal asked, continuing: “When terrorists were killing people, a military officer was stationed just a kilometre away from the site, along with several personnel. If he had come to rescue people, this incident could have been prevented.”
Clash in Kurram District
Kurram district, which is divided into Upper and Lower Kurram, reflects its sectarian composition: Upper Kurram is predominantly Shia, while Lower Kurram is predominantly Sunni.
Locals say the conflict in Kurram stems from policies implemented by former dictator Zia-ul-Haq, who, they believe, fostered hatred in the name of religion. Over the decades, disputes between Shia- and Sunni-dominated areas have resulted in numerous casualties.
While several agreements were reached between Shia and Sunni groups over the years, locals argue that the government consistently failed to enforce these accords. They claim that the government’s negligence has left residents vulnerable to terror attacks and sectarian clashes. Moreover, they allege that the state has not taken meaningful action against banned terrorist groups, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating in Kurram.
Jalal Hussain Bangash highlighted that this is the sixth attack against the Shia community in Kurram within a month. He stressed that providing security is the state’s responsibility, noting that attacks of this magnitude occurring under the watch of security forces either point to a massive security lapse or imply state complicity.
The role of proxy wars
Mohsin Dawar, chairman of the National Democratic Movement, described the horrifying attack on the Shia community as likely stemming from another proxy war, which he warned could escalate further. Dawar suggested the potential involvement of global powers, such as China and the United States, in exploiting the conflict.
He emphasised Pakistan’s history of becoming embroiled in proxy wars instigated by foreign powers, often exacerbated by state policies that exploit societal divisions for strategic purposes.
Government explanations challenged
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officials claimed the attack on the Shia community resulted from a land dispute between tribal groups. Hussain, however, rejected this explanation, arguing that while such disputes have existed for decades, they have never led to violence on this scale. He criticised the provincial government for failing to provide updates on the land commission it had formed, questioning its effectiveness.
Dawar also dismissed the land dispute narrative, calling it a reflection of the state’s inability to address local issues. He contended that a land dispute alone could not account for such a horrific and large-scale incident.
“This shows that the state and its forces are leveraging fault lines to deepen divisions among people,” Dawar stated. “People were traveling with a security forces convoy – how, then, could such a large-scale incident occur?”
