Eleven people have been killed and eight injured, including women and children, in tribal clashes in northwestern Pakistan. Tensions rose in Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, after a shooting incident between rival tribes. Efforts are being made to secure travel routes and restore normalcy, with injured individuals taken to a hospital. Tribal elders have arrived to mediate a peace agreement. Last month, at least 25 people were killed in clashes between Shia and Sunni Muslims in the region.
In a separate incident, the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 21 people at a coal mine in Dukki district. The armed separatist group accused Pakistani security personnel of being disguised as workers. The BLA threatened more assaults unless the military withdrew from the province. Balochistan is known for being a hotbed of armed movements, with the BLA at the forefront. They claim that the central government in Islamabad is exploiting the province’s resources to the detriment of the local population.
The BLA recently claimed responsibility for an attack targeting Chinese nationals near Pakistan’s largest airport, which resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals. The Chinese embassy in Pakistan confirmed the deaths and injuries, with reports of 10 total injuries and extensive vehicle damage. The BLA has been designated a terrorist group by multiple countries.
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