Islamabad — At least 41 people, including women and children, were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked a convoy of 200 passenger vehicles in Pakistan’s tribal district of Kurram, near the Afghan border. The convoy, under police escort due to heightened sectarian tensions, was ambushed on Thursday, with attackers targeting security personnel first, according to provincial authorities.

The tragic incident occurred in an area plagued by sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia Muslim tribes. Police confirmed 16 others were critically injured, and officials fear the death toll may rise. Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief secretary, called the attack “a major tragedy.”

Witnesses described the chaos, with survivors hiding under car seats as gunfire erupted. Saeeda Bano, a passenger, recounted seeing bodies and injured individuals scattered along the road once the shooting subsided.

Officials revealed approximately 10 attackers fired indiscriminately from both sides of the road. Women and children sought refuge in nearby houses as authorities launched a manhunt. The convoy was traveling along a road recently reopened under police protection following previous attacks in the region, including one last month that left 15 dead.

Authorities continue investigating the motive, with local land disputes and extremist groups suspected of fueling the violence.