"‘Factional Clash’ Vehicle Convoy Attacked in Northwestern Pakistan... '16 Dead'"

Since the end of last year, clashes between Islamic sects have continued in northwestern Pakistan, where an ambush attack on a convoy resulted in the deaths of 16 people.

Yonhap News

According to AFP and other sources on the 17th (local time), in the Kurram region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, 33 vehicles carrying rice and other food supplies and 2 vehicles carrying medical supplies were ambushed by armed militants the previous day.

During the incident, the police reported that 10 people, including 2 officers, were killed and 5 to 6 drivers were abducted.

Six armed militants were also killed during the counterattack.

It is not known whether the attackers belonged to the Shia or Sunni sect.

The attack occurred amid ongoing retaliations following a shooting on two Shia convoys in the Kurram region last November, which left 52 people dead. So far, about 150 people have died.

Both sides have agreed to ceasefires several times, but these agreements have fallen apart. The most recent ceasefire was established on the 1st through mediation by elders, but a few days later, another convoy was attacked, resulting in multiple injuries.

Kurram is the only region in Pakistan where Shias outnumber Sunnis, and sectarian clashes over land issues have occurred intermittently for decades.

Across Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country, most Muslims are Sunni, with Shias comprising up to 15% at most.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.