The death toll from two sectarian attacks in Kurram district, northwest Pakistan, has risen to 43, authorities confirmed on Friday. The violence occurred when gunmen targeted two separate Shiite Muslim convoys traveling under police escort in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region notorious for sectarian unrest, near the Afghanistan border.

Javed Ullah Mehsud, a senior administrative official, confirmed that the victims included seven women and three children, with 16 others injured—11 of whom are in critical condition. A senior police officer also corroborated the death toll, underscoring the severity of the attacks.

In response, authorities imposed a curfew and suspended mobile services across the district, describing the situation as “extremely tense.” Residents of Parachinar, the main town in Kurram, staged a sit-in protest demanding justice and better security measures.

A senior official reported that the main road connecting Upper and Lower Kurram had been closed, and the local bazaar was shut down, with all traffic suspended.

The district has seen escalating clashes between Sunni and Shiite tribes in recent months. Similar outbreaks in July and September led to multiple deaths, which were only contained after tribal jirgas mediated ceasefires.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the attacks, attributing the violence to the government’s failure to protect its citizens. “The frequency of such incidents reflects the inability of federal and provincial governments to secure the safety of ordinary citizens,” the HRCP stated.

In an effort to restore peace, officials have promised continued efforts to engage tribal leaders in mediation to prevent further escalation.