Kurram’s Warring Tribes Reach Peace Agreement After Lengthy Jirga
KOHAT: The two feuding tribes in Kurram have reached a peace agreement, paving the way for the reopening of roads in the volatile Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region, confirmed Malik Sawab Khan, a member of the jirga, on Wednesday.
Speaking to Geo News, Sawab Khan, who is part of the grand jirga, shared that 45 representatives from each side signed the 14-point peace accord.
“Both sides have agreed to surrender their weapons to the government,” he stated, adding that failure to comply would result in government action. Additionally, the agreement mandates the dismantling of all bunkers in the area.
A committee will be formed within 15 days to oversee the implementation of the agreement, with hopes that normalcy will return to Kurram within a month.
Kohat Commissioner Syed Motasim Billah Shah also confirmed the breakthrough, noting that all representatives had signed the agreement, with three remaining.
The peace jirga was convened at Kohat Fort to facilitate talks between the warring tribes in the violence-affected district. The negotiations, supervised by GOC 9 Division Major General Zulfiqar Bhatti, aimed to bring lasting peace to the region, which has seen over 130 deaths in tribal clashes since November.
Despite several truces announced over the past year, the conflict remained unresolved, prompting tribal elders to continue their efforts to secure a permanent peace deal.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s Adviser on Information, Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, revealed last week that a general consensus had been reached during the Kurram peace jirga. He also mentioned that two additional days had been granted to one side for further discussions on unresolved issues.
The recent violence has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Kurram, with shortages of medicine and oxygen due to the prolonged closure of the main highway connecting Parachinar to Peshawar. Reports suggest that more than 100 children may have died from a lack of medicine, though Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government officials, including Barrister Saif, have denied these claims.
Along with ongoing protests at the Parachinar Press Club, road closures have sparked demonstrations in Karachi, which have now lasted for nine days. On Monday, another protest was held in Bagan, in lower Kurram, against damage to shops and homes. Protesters are demanding the reopening of roads and aid for those affected. District officials have cited security concerns, including recent gunfire on passenger vehicles and tribal clashes, as the reason for the closures.
