Over 80 people were killed and scores more injured in recent sectarian clashes in northwestern Pakistan. Experts say historic rivalries, extremist Islamist groups, and political marginalization are to blame.

Pakistani authorities say they have negotiated a seven-day ceasefire after more than 80 people were killed in renewed sectarian violence in the north-west of the country. Another 156 are said to have been wounded in three days of fighting in the tribal district of Kurram, near the Afghan border.

Around 300 families fled sectarian violence on Saturday in northwest Pakistan as fresh sectarian clashes killed another 32 people.

The clashes overnight between Sunni and Shiite tribes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province came a day after gunmen ambushed a convoy of vehicles in the area.

Fighting between armed Sunni and Shiite groups in northwestern Pakistan killed at least 33 people and injured 25 others, a senior police officer from the region said Saturday. The overnight violence was the latest to rock Kurram,

Pakistani officials announced a seven-day truce Sunday after days of bitter sectarian gunfights in the country's northwest Kurram district that have killed at least 82 people and wounded 156 more. Last month at least 16 people,

Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims have engaged in rivalry for decades over a land dispute in Kurram district near the Afghanistan border.

Government officials met with tribal leaders in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday to try to mediate a ceasefire between rival sectarian groups after days of clashes that have killed at least 68 people and injured dozens.

The clashes began on Thursday when gunmen attacked convoys of civilian vehicles, killing at least 40 people, mostly Shi'ite Muslims, triggering retaliatory attacks against Sunni residents, leading to intense battles between armed groups from both sides.