At least 11 people have been killed and eight injured, including women and children, in tribal clashes in northwestern Pakistan. The violence erupted in Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, following a shooting incident between rival tribes. Efforts are being made to secure travel routes and restore normalcy in the area, with injured individuals being taken to a hospital for treatment. The current tensions have hampered peace efforts, with elders from both tribes working to mediate a peace agreement.
In a separate incident, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group in southwest Pakistan, claimed responsibility for an attack on a coal mine in Dukki district that killed 21 people. The BLA accused Pakistani security personnel of disguising themselves as workers and threatened more assaults unless the military withdrew from the province. Balochistan is known for armed movements, with the BLA pointing out the central government’s exploitation of the province’s resources for the local population’s detriment.
The BLA has been designated a “terrorist group” by Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They recently claimed responsibility for an attack targeting Chinese nationals near Pakistan’s largest airport, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals and injuries to others. The Chinese embassy in Pakistan condemned the incident, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region.
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