Kurram peace jirga postponed again

KOHAT: The peace jirga scheduled for Wednesday (today) to address the recent unrest in the Kurram tribal district was postponed again on Tuesday.

Speaking to The News, jirga members, including Malik Sawab Khan Jaji, stated that although progress had been made, a deadlock persisted on certain points.

However, the elder expressed optimism that the jirga would soon resolve the issues and the Kohat-Kurram Road would reopen.

Malik Sawab outlined the primary issues causing the deadlock. He said one of the contentious points was the immediate custody by police or the Pakistan Army of individuals implicated in the Kurram violence, who had cases registered against them.

The second point of contention, he explained, was the handover of all weapons -- both small and large -- to the Pakistan Army.

The elder added that while both sides had agreed to vacate and demolish all armed posts, one faction expressed concerns about potential attacks from the Afghan border by the Taliban. This concern had led to their reluctance to surrender weapons, he added.

The jirga members emphasized that since the Pakistan Army safeguarded the borders, trust must be placed in their protection, and all arms should be handed over.

According to Malik Sawab, the Pakistan Army, under the leadership of GOC 9 Division Major-General Zulfiqar Bhatti, was making efforts to restore peace and ensure the reopening of the road.

He was hopeful that these issues would be resolved within a few days, leading to the restoration of peace and the reopening of the Kohat-Kurram Road.