In the absence of institutional intervention, a dispute flares into a deadly Sunni-Shia clash

In Kuram, a Pakistani District with the capital Parachinar, a dispute around agricultural land was ignited, rooting in a long-standing intertribal secreterian conflict.

At least 46 people were killed and 200 injured in clashes until a temporary ceasefire was agreed upon on Mondayday.

After six days of intense battles between two tribal groups, a ceasefire was brokered by a jirga in an effort to restore peace in the restive region.
Kurram, home to a population of approximately 800,000, borders Afghanistan in the south (Khost), west (Paktika) and north (Nangarhar). In the east, it shares a border with the Orakzai district, which was also once part of erstwhile Fata (the acronym by which the Federally Administered Tribal Areas have been known since the country’s inception).
Parachinar, the district’s capital, was once called ‘Paradise on Earth’.

Kurram lies along Pakistan’s northwestern border with Afghanistan and has experienced violence in the past with attacks carried out by the Pakistan Taliban [File: Arshad Arbab/EPA]

According to local authorities and tribal leaders, the current conflict has its roots in a continuing land dispute between Shia-majority and Sunni-majority tribes. Another similar incident flared up last year, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people.

It was a piece of agricultural land originally owned by the Shia tribe, which they had leased to the Sunni tribe for farming purposes. The lease was supposed to end this July, but when the time came, they refused to return the land, leading to fighting,” Jan told Al Jazeera.

A view of Parachinar, the capital of Kurram

The state was completely absent initially, leading to so much fighting.

“Authorities too had failed to maintain law and order,” Malik Mahmood Ali Jan, a member of the peace committee in Kurram saud.

“They did not interfere or send in forces or police despite the heavy presence of military and paramilitary personnel in the area,” Jan claimed, which the authorities denied.

The fighting led to the closure of most roads leading to Kurram, and news reports emerged that even ambulances were targeted by unknown men.

A dispute between two tribes can often expand into a bigger problem, perpetuated by extremist organisations. Social and demographic changes over the years — the Iranian revolution, entry of Sunni Afghan refugees, and influx of weapons during the Afghan jihad are among the factors that have also contributed to the intensity and frequency of sectarian violence.

“Crisis in Parachinar is influenced by both domestic and international factors with roots in deep-seated mistrust between Sunnis and Shias, coupled with the influx of weapons during the Afghan Jihad.”
Kashmir Time report

Incidents are reported in the district every few years, with Parachinar emerging as the epicentre of the violence. What stands out is the year 2007, when deadly clashes broke out in the region, resulting in over 3,000 casualties and some 50 villages burnt. Hundreds of families were also displaced from the area.

Education and health are two sectors in Kurram that have suffered tremendously because of the unrest. The government’s lack of attention towards colleges and universities in the district has dramatically reduced higher education opportunities for youngsters.
Separately, hospitals across the district lack the availability of equipment, qualified staff and other necessary facilities, preventing speedy treatment in urgent times

Malik Mahmood Ali Jan, a member of the peace committee in Kurram, explained that land disputes were a common occurrence in the district for which the government had formed a land commission last year.
“Unfortunately, the body failed to do its job and left Kurram midway,” he claimed. “Ultimately, intertribal disputes over several years over the distribution of water, cutting of wood and denial of road access have morphed into sectarian conflicts.”