Sectarian clashes in Pakistan's tribal region kill 33

Jun 28, 2009, 5:50 GMT

   Islamabad - A fresh wave of sectarian clashes fuelled by Islamist militancy in Pakistan's troubled north-western region near Afghanistan killed at least 33 people over the weekend, a media report said on Sunday.

   The clashes broke between Sunni and Shiites Muslims in the Kurram tribal district last week after insurgents infiltrated the area to flee a military offensive against the Taliban fighters elsewhere in the volatile region.

   At least 33 people were killed and 65 more were wounded as fighting raged Friday night and continued through Saturday in Lower Kurram, which adjoins the al-Qaeda and Taliban hotbed of North Waziristan region, the English-language Dawn newspaper reported.

   Dawn said clashes during the last two weeks had left around 89 people dead and 175 injured.

   Shiite tribesmen, who are in majority in Kurram, are calling for raising local militias, or Lashkars, to block the entry of mostly Sunni militants. They have been challenging the Taliban movement for the last two years.

   'We have had over 700 young people martyred but have not allowed these militants to secure a toehold in Upper Kurram,' tribal leader Haji Rauf was quoted by Dawn as saying. 'Now the influx of Taliban from Swat, Dir and other areas is worsening the situation.'

   Government forces have been battling with the Taliban militants in the former tourist resort of Swat and its neighbouring districts since late April, and claimed to have eliminated more than 1,600 rebels.

   Rauf said the government should launch a similar military operation in Kurram, adding that the tribesmen would 'fight alongside our soldiers.'

   Kurram has been in the grip of sectarian strife for the last two years and has seen several deadly episodes of violence which claimed hundreds of lives.

   The key land route between the district's main town of Parachinar and the rest of the country has been cut off for the last several months, causing shortage of food and medical supplies. Authorities have been airlifting consignments but the problem persists.