Helicopter carrying KP govt delegation attacked in Parachinar

PARACHINAR: A helicopter carrying a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government delegation from Peshawar to the conflict-hit Kurram district narrowly escaped destruction after reportedly coming under attack in Parachinar.

According to reports, KP’s law minister, chief secretary and other officials were on their way to Kurram to assess the situation after 15 people were killed in fresh gunfights.

The pilot of the helicopter managed to land safely after the shooting incident, while all members of the delegation were unharmed.

Earlier, at least 15 people were killed and more than two dozen injured in armed clashes between different groups in the tribal district of Kurram in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Police said the groups were targeting each other with heavy and automatic weapons, prompting authorities to close schools in the area.

The latest wave of armed clashes began earlier this week after unidentified gunmen targeted passenger vehicles in Kurram.

Unidentified assailants targeted passenger vehicles in the Uchhat area of ​​Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, killing at least 44 people, including six women.

Police said the vehicles were heading to Peshawar from Parachinar when they came under attack, adding that several other passengers were injured in the attack.

The district has been gripped by months of intense clashes between different tribes and parties. The violence in the area has claimed dozens of lives.