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| India-Pakistan |
| Kurram tribes declare ceasefire |
| 2008-09-03 |
| (AKI/DAWN) - Six tribes in Pakistan's troubled border region declared a ceasefire on Monday after nine people were killed and 26 others were injured in ongoing clashes. The conflict between the Turi and Bangash tribes took place in the Kurram Agency bordering Afghanistan. The tribes announced their ceasefire after a meeting with political administration officials in the town of Sadda. The fighting between Turi and Bangash tribes erupted on Saturday and continued on Sunday, despite a unilateral announcement of a ceasefire by the Turi tribe in reverence for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. According to the Pakistani daily, Dawn, 104 people have died in fierce clashes since Sunday and 226 others have suffered injuries. Local hospitals are reported to be facing problems because of a shortage of medicines. Northwest of Pakistan has suffered a wave of militant violence since July and hundreds of people have been killed including many members of the security forces. Shias are the majority in the region, but they are surrounded by Sunni tribesmen and much of the conflict appears to be sectarian in nature. Kurram is home to various Taliban militant groups and served as an important launching pad for the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1980s. |
| Posted by:Fred |