The Kurram district in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been gripped by sectarian violence for months, as deadly clashes between Shia and Sunni communities continue. This picturesque but volatile mountainous region, which borders Afghanistan, has a longstanding history of conflict, and recent land disputes have reignited tensions, leaving dozens dead and forcing thousands of residents to call for urgent government intervention.

The main highway through Kurram has been closed for over four weeks, with authorities imposing restrictions after tit-for-tat attacks intensified in July. The initial land dispute has spiraled into a broader sectarian conflict, claiming at least 46 lives since July and further escalating with the ambush of a convoy on October 12, which left 15 dead. Road closures have compounded the difficulties faced by the district’s 800,000 residents, nearly half of whom belong to the Shia minority.

With mobility severely restricted, authorities have resorted to organizing escorted convoys four days a week. The latest security measures were implemented after thousands of residents gathered for a peace march in the district headquarters of Parachinar, urging the government to enhance protections.

A Region Shaped by Conflict

Kurram’s challenges are amplified by its strategic location near Afghanistan’s Khost, Paktia, and Nangarhar provinces. Decades of cross-border instability and the presence of anti-Shia armed groups like the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and ISIL (ISIS) have fostered conditions for recurrent violence. The region’s deadliest period of sectarian strife in recent history, between 2007 and 2011, saw over 2,000 lives lost. Today, local leaders are working to prevent a similar cycle of violence.

Following a peace agreement on August 2, an intertribal ceasefire temporarily eased tensions, but violence reignited in late September. The ambush in October pushed the district into renewed turmoil, leading to retaliatory attacks and a climate of fear that has disrupted daily life. According to Ali Jan, a member of the local peace committee, recent ceasefire efforts have offered a brief reprieve, though sporadic gunfire still poses a threat.

Government’s Limited Reach and Efforts for Peace

Local officials, including Kurram’s Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud, maintain that the government is doing all it can to restore order. “Tribal leaders from both communities are cooperating with us, and we’re working hard to ensure public safety,” Mehsud told Al Jazeera. He emphasized that convoys are escorted by security forces, and essentials such as medicine and food are being delivered without disruption.

Despite the authorities’ assurances, some local leaders question the state’s commitment. Mohsin Dawar, a former parliamentarian and head of the National Democratic Movement, expressed doubts about the government’s willingness to resolve the crisis. “I doubt whether the authorities are genuinely intent on resolving the issue,” Dawar told Al Jazeera. He suggested that a lack of decisive action allows the conflict to persist, with killings sparking revenge and a perpetual cycle of violence.

Life on Hold

While authorities say markets have reopened and daily life is slowly resuming, residents report that the situation remains tense. Road closures, severe travel restrictions, and a three-month-long internet blackout have kept the district on edge. Many residents fear that without a sustained peace agreement and active support from both government and local leaders, the cycle of violence will continue, destabilizing the entire region.

As tribal leaders work alongside government officials in an attempt to broker a lasting peace, residents remain wary, knowing that the history of sectarian violence in Kurram casts a long shadow. The immediate future hinges on whether the government can manage to build trust among communities and keep armed groups from exploiting the instability. The people of Kurram are hopeful but watchful, eager for a durable peace that has eluded them for so long.