By IRNA,
Islamabad : Fresh sectarian clashes in a Pakistani tribal region has claimed lives of over 90 persons, state television has reported.
Around 200 others have also been injured in rival tribes in Kurram Agency near the Afghan border, PTV reported.
The fighting between Turi and Bangash tribes erupted again on Saturday and continued Monday morning after a few days’ lull despite a unilateral announcement of ceasefire by the Turi tribe in reverence for Ramazan, local media reported.
The groups attacked each other’s positions in different areas with missiles, rockets and rifles as the government and tribal elders have failed to broker any ceasefire.
The clashes started when Bangash tribesman attacked Turi tribe’s positions in Inzari area, leaving five people dead and several others injured.
The Turis formed a lashkar and raided Bangash tribe’s positions in its stronghold known as Bagzai.
Reports said that three suicide attacks were carried by supporters of the Bangash tribe against the lashkar, killing and injuring a large number of people.”’
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a seminary and one was killed by the lashkar.
The lashkar’s chief Mukhtar Turi claimed having seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition and some important documents from the headquarters of the rival tribe.
Clashes have been going on in the area for three weeks and over 400 people have so far been killed, reports say.
Thousands of people have been displaced and their property ransacked, looted or torched during the fighting.
Historically, sectarian clashes have been erupting in Kurram every three to five years, but violence would die down quickly because of a combination of political and administrative measures and use of force.
But the irony this time is that there is little tribal elders from the two sides can do although they are weary and tired of violence and want an end to the bloodshed.
The elders of one sect have lost their authority to a band of displaced people of their sect from Parachinar and Taliban militants, mostly from other tribal regions, while the elders of the other sect, although still having some say, are fast losing influence to a stridently violent militant faction.