KOHAT: In a bid to restore peace in the violence-stricken Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Saturday directed authorities to dismantle dugouts of rival tribes and seize their weapons.
The chief minister issued these directives during a grand jirga held in Kohat, attended by tribal elders from both sides of the conflict.
The ongoing violence, now in its tenth day, has resulted in 124 fatalities and 178 injuries, with two more lives lost and 10 injured in overnight clashes.
The unrest began with ambushes on two police-escorted convoys on November 21, which left 52 dead. Since then, the situation has worsened, with police struggling to control escalating violence.
The Kurram region remains under a communication blackout, with mobile and internet services suspended and schools closed. The closure of the main highway has not only disrupted local travel but also halted trade with Afghanistan at the Kharlachi border.
A 10-day truce brokered earlier this week has largely failed, with intermittent violence undermining the agreement.
During the jirga, Gandapur assured attendees of the provincial government’s commitment to restoring peace. He directed officials to immediately resettle displaced victims and compensate for their losses.
“All weapons held by rival tribes must be confiscated and kept under administration until peace is reestablished,” Gandapur stated.
He also ordered strict action, including arrests and case registrations, against individuals spreading hatred on social media. Calling for cooperation, he urged rival factions to announce a ceasefire and uphold previous peace agreements, emphasizing that lasting peace requires citizens’ support.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recently documented 79 deaths in the region between July and October, reflecting the area’s prolonged instability.
Previous peace efforts, including a seven-day truce earlier this month and a ceasefire negotiated by a high-level delegation last weekend, have failed to yield lasting results.
