Terrorist Attack on Passenger Van in Pakistan’s Lower Kurram Leaves 38 Dead, Dozens Injured
Kurram, November 21: At least 38 people were killed and 30 others critically injured in a terrorist attack on a passenger van in Pakistan's Lower Kurram district, part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Armed militants sprayed bullets on the vehicle, shocking the nation. Officials fear the death toll could rise further as many of the injured are in critical condition. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
According to Dawn newspaper, Station House Officer Kaleem Shah of the Ahmadi Shama Police Station confirmed that the attack killed 38 people, including three women, and left 11 injured. Earlier, Dr. Mohammad Ishaq, Medical Superintendent at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Alizai, reported receiving 33 bodies and 30 injured passengers. Some of the injured have been transferred to hospitals in Peshawar for advanced treatment.
Officials Condemn the Attack
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry told reporters that the death toll is likely to rise. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack, calling it a "cowardly and inhumane act" targeting innocent civilians. In a statement shared by the Pakistan People's Party's media cell, he expressed his sorrow over the tragic loss of lives.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also denounced the attack and directed a delegation of senior officials, including the Provincial Law Minister and local representatives, to immediately visit Kurram to assess the situation. Gandapur urged for the revival of the local jirga system to mediate and restore order in the region.
Context of Rising Violence
The region has witnessed increasing violence in recent months. The now-banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022 and has since intensified attacks targeting security forces.
According to Geo News, Kurram district has been plagued by tribal clashes, which have claimed numerous lives. Prolonged violence has frequently disrupted key roads and border routes with Afghanistan, causing severe shortages of food and fuel supplies. Tribal elders from the Turi and Bangash communities have expressed concerns over an escalating humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing conflict.
This attack underscores the fragile security situation in Pakistan's tribal regions, as authorities struggle to contain the surge in violence and its devastating impact on civilians.
