Kurram warring tribes sign peace accord after days-long jirga

KOHAT: The two warring tribes in Kurram have finally struck a peace accord that would lead to the reopening of roads in the restive territory of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, jirga member Malik Sawab Khan confirmed on Wednesday.

Speaking to Geo News, Sawab Khan — who is part of the grand jirga — said that 45 people from each warring side have signed the 14-point peace agreement.

"Both sides have agreed to hand over their weapons to the government," he said, warning of the government's action if either side fails to do so. Furthermore, he said, it was decided in the agreement that all bunkers will be dismantled.

The jirga member added that a committee will be constituted within 15 days to start implementing the agreement, hoping that the situation in restive Kurram would return to normal within a month.

In response to a question, Khan said that the government would decide on the opening of the roads. “Members of Anjuman-e-Hussainia Association and members belonging to Anjuman-e-Farooqia, gave assent to the accord."

A grand peace jirga was convened at Kohat Fort to mediate talks between the warring tribes of the violence-hit district. The peace talks, held under the supervision of GOC 9 Division Major General Zulfiqar Bhatti, aimed at establish lasting peace between the warring tribes whose clashes have claimed over 130 lives since November.

Despite multiple truces announced over the past year, the issue remained unresolved, with tribal elders continuing efforts to negotiate a permanent peace agreement.

Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, announced last week that a general consensus had been reached between the rival tribes during the Kurram peace jirga.

In today's statement, Barrister Saif echoed Sawab Khan's remarks, saying that both sides have agreed to surrender their weapons and demolish their bunkers. "The peace agreement will usher in an era of peace and prosperity in Kurram," he added.

Another jirga member, Raza Hussain said that plans were being chalked out to open routes and establish peace. "We will work in collaboration with the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to ensure peace and order," he said, adding that the ceasefire would be implemented immediately as per the agreement.

Humanitarian crisis

Kurram, a district of more than 600,000 residents near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, has long been a hotspot for sectarian violence. But recent months have seen escalating tensions, with clashes since July to date leaving over 200 people dead.

The recent clashes exacerbated a humanitarian crisis in the distrct, with medicine and oxygen supplies running critically low due to the prolonged closure of the main highway linking Parachinar to Peshawar.

Reports suggest that over 100 children may have died from a severe shortage of medicine, though Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif has denied these claims.

In addition to the ongoing sit-in at the Parachinar Press Club, the road closures have sparked protests in Karachi, now in their ninth day. On Monday, a separate protest was staged in Bagan, in the lower part of Kurram, against damage to shops and homes in the area.

Protesters demanded the reopening of roads and assistance for affected individuals. However, district administration officials cited security concerns, including recent firing on passenger vehicles and tribal clashes, as the reason for the closures.

The district was declared "disaster-hit" by the provincial government with authorities airlifting medical supplies to the area and evacuating people in critical need.

Underscoring that a consensus has been reached on all major points, Barrister Saif had said that bunkers would be abolished and the area would be de-weaponised as per the Apex Committee's decision.

He reaffirmed the government's resolve to achieve a permanent and sustainable solution to the conflict dating back more than a century.