Pakistani mediators seek ceasefire as sectarian violence leaves 68 dead

Government officials met with tribal leaders in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday to try to mediate a ceasefire between rival sectarian groups after days of clashes that left at least 68 people dead and dozens injured.

The clashes began after gunmen attacked convoys of civilian vehicles on Thursday, killing at least 40 mostly Shiite Muslims. That led to retaliatory attacks against Sunni residents, with battles between armed groups from both sides.

Armed Shiite and Sunni Muslims have been embroiled in tribal and sectarian rivalry for decades over a land dispute in Kurram district, near the border with Afghanistan.

A government delegation flew to Parachinar – the capital of Kurram – on Saturday to meet leaders of both parties, said Muhammad Ali Saif, information minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where Kurram is located.

The delegation met with Shiite leaders and stayed overnight to meet Sunni leaders on Sunday in an effort to broker a ceasefire deal and then take action to resolve the matter, he said in a statement.

“There are positive developments in cooperation with stakeholders,” he said.