More than 80 people have been killed in renewed religious murder in north-west Pakistan, authorities say.
Another156 are said to have been wounded in three days of fighting in the cultural city of Kurram, near the Afghan borders.
The violence began on Thursday, when gunmen attacked convoys of Shia Muslims travelling through the area under police escort. More than 40 died in that incident, which triggered revenge attacks.
For years, Shia and Sunni Muslims have engaged in religious and cultural disputes over land problems.
On Sunday a regional administration official told AFP information company:” The clashes and fleet attacks on November 21, 22, and 23 have resulted in 82 mortality and 156 accidents”.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said that 16 of the deceased were Sunni and 66 belonged to the Shia area.
Those killed in Thursday’s assaults on convoys included women and children. Saeeda Bano, a customer in a car with her children, told BBC Urdu how she feared she would be killed.
Due to the escalating violence on Friday and Saturday, thousands of people fled.
Following a cultural council’s request for a ceasefire after dozens of people died in attacks over the past several decades, the government has issued the statement.
According to AFP, municipal officials reportedly started discussions with Shia and Sunni community officials on Saturday.
The diplomats ‘ aircraft had come under fire when they arrived in the area, according to a security established in the provincial capital Peshawar.