12 Oct 2024 | 08:40 AM UTC
Pakistan: Armed attack in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, leaves at least 11 dead, more injured Oct. 12
Assailants open fire on passenger bus in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, OCt 12, leaving 11 dead. Terror threat remains high.
Unidentified assailants opened fire on a passenger bus in the Kanj Alizai area of Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, near the shared border with Afghanistan, on Oct. 12. The attack left at least 11 people dead and six more injured. There have been no claims of responsibility. Further details are not currently available. Kanj Alizai is located around 138 km (86 miles) west-southwest of Peshawar.
Heightened security measures are likely until investigations and any ensuing security operations end. Additional attacks and armed clashes may occur. Checkpoints and increased patrols are likely. Business and traffic disruptions and telecommunication and movement controls are probable in the coming days, mainly in areas with active security operations. Locals may stage further demonstrations, including protests against prolonged security controls; popular demonstration sites include public squares and highways.
Avoid the affected area until security forces give the all-clear. Minimize exposure to potential target sites such as government and security installations and convoys, compounds of prominent development projects, as well as crowded public places. Confirm business appointments, road status, and travel reservations if operating in the region. Carry valid identification and remain non-confrontational if approached at checkpoints. Maintain contact with diplomatic representations. Heed all security and traffic advisories.
The shared border between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains chronically insecure, especially in the semi-autonomous former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of which Kurram District was a part. FATA was incorporated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in 2018, but government forces continue to exercise limited control over this area. A spike in violence is likely in the coming months due to the launch of a nationwide counterterror operation since late June.
