Shia Muslims in Pakistan’s Parachinar district are enduring severe violence and unrest, calling on the government to end clashes triggered by pro-Taliban groups.

Militant groups stormed the Shia-populated region with heavy weaponry, killing at least 44 people and wounding several others. 

Parachinar, which is located in the Kurram District along the Afghanistan border, has been the site of repeated clashes to the extent that observers have described the situation as a form of genocide against the Shia community, with deliberate attacks intended to sow fear. The city has a complex history of tribal and sectarian conflicts due to its strategic location and the presence of militant groups.

The Pakistani government and local authorities have been criticized for their inadequate response to the violence and failure to protect the Shia minority. There are calls for more decisive action to bring the perpetrators to justice and to ensure the safety and security of the Shia population in Parachinar.

Since 2008, Pakistan’s Shia Muslim community has been the target of an unprecedented escalation in violence as extremists have killed thousands of Shia across the country, according to Human Rights Watch.