Jirga brokers long-awaited Kurram peace deal

KOHAT/PARACHINAR: The people of the restive Kurram tribal district heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday after the authorities announced that both parties to the dispute had signed a 14-point peace agreement.

The Grand Peace Jirga had been working on the agreement for over three weeks in Kohat to bring an end to the unrest in the Kurram tribal district, where roads had been closed since the last few months due to violence, multiplying the miseries of inhabitants.

The latest violence claimed over 150 lives. The road closures had created a scarcity of essential items and medicine in the volatile district.

The situation forced the affected people to stage sit-ins in various places in Kurram and even other parts of the country, including Peshawar, to express anger at the worsening law and order situation and road blockades.

The KP government constituted a Grand Peace Jirga that held several sessions in Kohat. Finally, the jirga succeeded in convincing both parties to sign the peace agreement. The provincial government spokesperson, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, announced the development – peace accord signing -- in a statement.

According to the key points of peace agreement, all parties will surrender heavy weapons to the government. Construction of new bunkers has been prohibited, and existing bunkers must be demolished within a month. Any party launching an offensive after bunker demolition will be declared a terrorist. Travel routes will be secured, and additional security personnel will be deployed. Residents of the area where a terrorist incident occurs will be held responsible for that. Providing refuge or assistance to terrorists will be considered a crime.

The 2008 Murree Peace Agreement will be implemented in its entirety. Convoys will depart on Saturdays to ensure safe road travel. The Apex Committee’s decisions on road safety will be implemented.

Displaced families of Kurram district will be resettled in respective areas as per the Murree Agreement. No individual or group will give a religious colour to any disputes.

The operation and reopening of offices of proscribed organisations will be prohibited.

All travel routes will remain free of barriers. There will be no restrictions on laying or repairing electricity, telephone, or cable lines, and all parties will cooperate in building new roads if necessary. All parties will ensure the safety of those given refuge.

Parties will not desecrate corpses. All government and non-government employees will perform duties without obstruction or fear. Those spreading hatred on social media will be punished. Parties will not take the law into their own hands in case of any unpleasant incident.

If a conflict arises between two villages, the peace committee of neighboring villages will mediate. District police and state agencies will ensure the swift arrest of those involved in terrorism. A sect or tribe will not obstruct the arrest of those involved in sabotage.

If local elders cannot resolve a dispute, the Kurram Grand Peace Jirga will decide. A permanent ceasefire will be observed by all parties.

Giving the details, Barrister Saif recalled that one of the rival parties had signed the document a few days ago, while the other did the needful on Wednesday. The adviser said both sides had agreed to surrender their weapons and demolish the bunkers they had set up.

During the signing ceremony, Barrister Saif congratulated the people of Kurram and hoped that the agreement would usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in the region, with normalcy soon to be fully restored. Acknowledging the cooperation of Kurram residents and the pivotal role played by the jirga, Barrister Saif emphasized that the agreement was a cornerstone for achieving sustainable peace in the region. The adviser clarified that the KP government was taking practical steps to resolve the Kurram dispute on a permanent and sustainable basis. Barrister Saif said that a comprehensive roadmap had been developed to ensure long-term peace.

Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in a separate statement, expressed elation at the agreement, saying the provincial government’s efforts for a peaceful resolution of the issue had borne fruit. “The signing of agreement between the parties is a significant step towards a sustainable resolution of the Kurram issue,” he said.

“I welcome this significant step and congratulate all the partners. I hope this agreement will provide a strong foundation for a sustainable resolution of Kurram issue,” he added, noting that the development was a “matter of joy” and would lead to the reopening of land routes to the affected district. Gandapur said, “This agreement is a clear message to the elements spreading hatred between the parties that the people of the region are peace-loving. I appeal to the parties to reject the elements spreading hatred and create unity in their ranks.”

“It is our effort and desire that the problems faced by the people of Kurram are resolved soon and normal life is restored there,” he added.

The chief minister said that fighting and violence were not solutions to any problem, emphasizing that issues should always be resolved through negotiations.