Shia-Sunni dispute again wreaked havoc in Pakistan, more than 80 people have died so far

Pakistan Sectarian Violence: Terrible communal violence continues between Shia and Sunni communities in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. So far, more than 80 people have been killed and more than 150 have been injured in this violence. The situation has become so bad that more than 300 families had to leave their homes and migrate to other places.

The violence began on November 21 when a convoy of Shia community was ambushed. This convoy was going from Peshawar to Parachinar and it was targeted in Began Town. More than 40 Shias died in the attack. Also many people were seriously injured. After the attack, violence broke out in the entire area in which both the sides attacked each other.

82 people have died so far

According to Pakistani media reports, some people say that the convoy was surrounded and fired upon. After the incident, violence continued to increase and so far 82 people have died. The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has declared a seven-day ceasefire between the two communities to bring the situation under control. Along with this, the state government has decided to constitute a high level commission which will try to resolve the dispute between Shia and Sunni communities.

Government took a big decision to maintain peace

The government claims that every possible step is being taken to maintain peace in the violence affected areas. However, local people say that the situation became so dire due to the inaction of the administration. Let us tell you that Kurram district is a tribal area of ​​Pakistan where Shia and Sunni communities have been clashing over land and other issues for a long time. The population of Shia community here is about 45% which mainly lives in Upper Kurram while Sunnis are in majority in Lower and Central Kurram.

Experts said a big thing about violence

The population structure of this area changed due to Sunni refugees from Afghanistan in the 1980s. Since then the conflict between the two communities increased. Between 2007 and 2011, Kurram witnessed devastating communal clashes in which more than 2,000 people were killed and more than 10,000 displaced. Experts believe that the violence in Kurram is not just a result of local dispute.

The role of countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran has also fueled this conflict. Saudi Arabia has supported Sunni organizations while Iran has supported Shia organizations. There have been frequent clashes in Kurram between Saudi-backed Sunni organizations and the Iranian-backed Zainabiun Brigade. This conflict has marked Kurram as a conflict zone on the international scene.

Shia-Sunni conflict around the world

This conflict between Shia and Sunni communities is centuries old. It started with the dispute regarding Prophet Mohammad’s successor (Caliph) after his death. The Shia community considers Hazrat Ali as the rightful successor of the Prophet while the Sunni community considers Abu Bakr as its Caliph.

About 85% of the Muslim population worldwide is Sunni while Shia are only 15%. In Pakistan this figure is approximately 90% Sunni and 10% Shia. In such a situation, religious differences between the two have taken the form of violence from time to time.

Kurram situation is a serious challenge for Pakistan

The current situation in Kurram has not only raised questions on Pakistan’s internal security system but has also become a big challenge for the government. People displaced due to violence have been evacuated to safe places, but their return and rehabilitation may take a long time. In such a situation, it is important for the Government of Pakistan to take concrete steps to promote communal harmony. Apart from this, a concrete policy will have to be adopted to stop the interference of external forces and maintain lasting peace.

Also read: PM Modi expressed his feelings regarding the eastern states, said- ‘People used to consider them backward, but they are engines of development’