Sectarian Divide

How can Pakistan's authorities protect its minority Shia community?

Sectarian violence between extremist members of Pakistan's majority Sunni and minority Shia communities has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people since the 1980s. Analysts say Pakistan is increasingly becoming the battleground in a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. They claim the bulk of the violence more recently has been committed against the Shia community. Bomb blasts this year alone have killed hundreds of Shias, with Sunni hardline group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claiming responsibility for most of the violence. The extremist group has an openly anti-Shia agenda and is banned in Pakistan. It is classified as a terrorist organisation by several Western nations.