Kukikhels reopen Pak-Afghan highway after talks

LANDIKOTAL/JAMRUD: The Pak-Afghan highway, which was closed as a protest by the members of the Kukikhel tribe, was reopened on Wednesday after 65 days of closure.

The Kukikhel tribesmen, led by Malik Naseer Kukikhel, had set up a protest camp at Bagyari checkpost on Pak-Afghan highway to record their protest against the government.

Hundreds of tribesmen, leaders of political parties, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, not only supported the protest but they also addressed the protesters.

The Kukikhel tribesmen were demanding that their 22000 displaced families should be allowed to return to their homes in various areas of Tirah valley, particularly the Rajgal area bordering Afghanistan.

During the 65 days of the road closure, residents, traders and shopkeepers in Landikotal, Torkham, Ali Masjid and Shalman faced problems.

The prices of the commodities had skyrocketed as no truck was allowed to transport goods from and to Peshawar via Pak-Afghan highway. Trade with Afghanistan had halted.

Several rounds of talks had taken place between the Kukikhel elders, government and military officials over the past two months, but to no avail.

After various rounds of talks, Malik Naseer said they reached an agreement with the government which agreed to send back the Tirah IDPs within six months.

He said from next Monday registration of the displaced people would get underway and after its completion, IDPs would be allowed to return to their homes in Tirah after the winter.

The authorities were of the view that military operations were underway in Tirah so they could not allow the return of the IDPs.

Hundreds of passenger coaches and trucks carrying goods started their journey after the tent and barricades were removed from the Pak-Afghan highway.

Earlier, a jirga of elders from the Kukikhel tribe called on Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar.

The jirga held consultations on the issue of repatriation of displaced people of Kukikhel tribe to their native areas.

MNA Iqbal Afridi, MPAs Sohail Afridi and Abdul Ghani Afridi, Commissioner Peshawar, Secretary Relief, Deputy Commissioner Khyber and others were also present.

It was agreed to initiate the registration process for the return of residents to areas which had been cleared, whereas for the remaining displaced families, it was decided to hold a meeting with the relevant institutions next week to develop a timeline and action plan for their repatriation. Following the chief minister’s assurance, the jirga announced the cancellation of a proposed march towards Tirah and ended their sit-in on the Torkham Road.

The jirga expressed confidence in the chief minister for the repatriation of the displaced persons and lauded his role in resolving the issue of October 11, peacefully.

The chief minister appreciated the Kukikhel elders for reposing trust in him to resolve the issue and assured them that he would make efforts to live up to their expectations.

He stated that a meeting with relevant stakeholders would be held next week to finalize a plan for the repatriation and rehabilitation of the displaced people.

The chief minister said the tribal people had made tremendous sacrifices in the war against terrorism, leaving their homes and enduring hardships for the sake of peace in the country. He reassured them that the return and resettlement of these people was a priority of his government.

The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to commence the process for procurement of necessary items for the return and resettlement of the displaced families.