PESHAWAR, Pakistan — In an effort to restore peace in a volatile region, local authorities, in collaboration with community leaders, have successfully brokered a new ceasefire between conflicting Shiite and Sunni factions in the Kurram district, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border. This ceasefire comes in the wake of severe sectarian violence that resulted in numerous fatalities, as reported by officials on Monday.

The unrest in Kurram intensified following a brutal attack on November 21, when assailants targeted a convoy primarily comprised of Shiite individuals, leading to the deaths of 52 people. While no group has taken responsibility for the assault, the Shiite community retaliated after the victims’ burial, leading to renewed confrontations with Sunni Muslims. These clashes have caused 78 deaths and approximately 200 injuries.

A previous ceasefire was established on November 24; however, it was short-lived as violence reemerged shortly after. Authorities remain optimistic that this new agreement will prove to be more enduring. On Sunday night, Javed Ullah Mehsud, the deputy commissioner of Kurram, announced that local tribal leaders played a pivotal role in mediating the ceasefire, and police forces have been mobilized to maintain order in the region.

Within Pakistan’s population of 240 million, Shiite Muslims constitute around 15%, coexisting predominantly in a Sunni-majority environment that has experienced a history of sectarian tensions. Although areas of the Kurram district are predominantly Shiite, the two sects have generally cohabited peacefully. Yet, recent disputes over land ownership have sparked violent encounters, emphasizing the fragility of intercommunal relations in the region.