PARACHINAR, Pakistan — In response to a troubling rise in violence and sectarian conflict, Pakistani security forces have initiated a significant operation against militants in the volatile, northwestern district that borders Afghanistan. This operation marks the first large-scale military action in this region in several years.

The most recent violence occurred in Kurram, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where unidentified attackers ambushed and set fire to aid trucks last Friday. This incident resulted in the tragic deaths of two security personnel and at least five drivers who were delivering essential supplies.

Since November, the district has been isolated from the rest of the nation after authorities erected barriers in response to intense clashes between armed Shiite and Sunni tribes. A harrowing ambush on a convoy during this time claimed the lives of 52 individuals, predominantly from the Shiite community. In retaliation, further attacks ensued, resulting in over 70 additional fatalities.

With aid groups unable to access the area, residents are now grappling with acute shortages of food and medical supplies, leaving hundreds of thousands in deep distress.

According to Barrister Saif Ali, the spokesperson for the provincial government, the surge in violence made this military operation “inevitable.” He also noted that authorities are facilitating the relocation of some residents to temporary government shelters while the operation unfolds across multiple locales, particularly in the city of Bagan, which has been a focal point of the unrest.

Motasim Billah, a government administrator, emphasized that the primary objective of this military endeavor is to restore peace and reaffirm the authority of the government in the region.

Kurram is notable for its Shiite Muslim population, while the broader demographic of Pakistan is predominantly Sunni. The area has a longstanding history of sectarian disharmony, with militant Sunni factions often targeting the minority Shiite community.