In a tragic incident on Wednesday, a land mine explosion in the Kurram district of northwest Pakistan led to the death of four individuals and injured several others, as confirmed by local police representatives.
The blast took place in a densely forested area of Kurram, triggered when one of the unsuspecting victims stepped on the explosive device.
This region previously witnessed violent sectarian clashes between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, with a particularly deadly conflict last year that left 130 people dead.
Habibullah Khan, the district police officer, reported that both the injured and deceased were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
The Kurram district, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, is historically known for sectarian tensions, with militant Sunni factions frequently targeting Shiite minorities in the past.
Despite this background, there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Since January, a local elders-brokered ceasefire has significantly reduced violent sectarian confrontations between Sunni and Shiite tribes.
Though gun attacks remain sporadic between these groups, incidents involving land mines are quite uncommon.
As a precautionary measure, authorities plan to deploy 10,000 security personnel in the Kohat region, including Kurram, ahead of Muharram, the first Islamic month.
This is a particularly sensitive period as Shiites commemorate the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein, from the 7th century.
Security across Pakistan will be intensified, responding to intelligence suggesting potential militant threats against Shiite communities during Muharram.
Despite Shiites forming the majority in certain parts of Kurram, they remain a minority elsewhere in Pakistan, a predominantly Sunni nation.
Throughout the years, this area has frequently witnessed sectarian tensions, underscoring the persistent religious fault lines within the region.