KURRAM, Pakistan — On Monday, militants in the northwestern region of Pakistan launched an ambush on a convoy of trucks, resulting in the deaths of a driver and a security personnel. The convoy was transporting essential goods, including food and medicine, to thousands of residents affected by ongoing sectarian conflict, as reported by local authorities.

This marks the third such attack in the Kurram district, which is located within the troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In recent months, violent clashes between rival Shiite and Sunni factions have claimed the lives of at least 130 individuals in the area.

The assault occurred while the trucks were en route to Parachinar, the principal city in Kurram. A doctor named Qaiser Abbas, practicing at a hospital in Parachinar, confirmed the fatalities, noting that both the truck driver and one of the security escorts were killed during the incident. He also mentioned that the hospital received approximately 15 injured individuals following the attack.

In response to the incident, local police authorities have initiated operations aimed at capturing those responsible for the ambush. It was reported that some of the aid trucks were not only targeted but also looted and set on fire by the assailants.

The frequency of attacks against security forces has increased in recent months, particularly in the North and South Waziristan regions which share a border with Afghanistan. These regions have seen military operations against militant hideouts, leading to recent confrontations. In a raid that occurred on Saturday, four soldiers and 15 militants were reported killed in the Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan districts.

The Pakistani military identified the deceased militants as members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a faction that has gained confidence following the Afghan Taliban’s rise to power in 2022. The TTP operates independently but shares affiliations with the Afghan Taliban, which has emboldened their activities in recent times.