Tinderbox truce

The restive Kurram district, a region long plagued by violence, sectarian strife and neglect, teeters on the edge once again – the recent arrest of three tribal elders for refusing to sign a newly brokered peace agreement just the latest example of the precarious nature of the fragile truce reached earlier this year. While the peace deal, struck on January 1 after a gruelling 50-day negotiation process, was a welcome development, the events that followed cast doubt on its durability and the state’s commitment to addressing the underlying issues in Kurram. The agreement had outlined 14 points aimed at de-escalating tensions between the warring factions. Among these were the surrender of private weapons to the government and the dismantling of bunkers. However, the subsequent firing incident that injured Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud and others is an alarming sign of the fragile security environment in the region. DC Mehsud, a pivotal figure in restoring peace, became a target just days after the peace deal.

Kurram has a long and troubled history of violence, much of it rooted in sectarian tensions that date back to the Afghan jihad. The ambush on police-escorted convoys last November, which sparked the latest wave of violence, claimed over 130 lives and injured more than 180. Yet, this is not merely a story of two rival factions. It is a tale of systemic neglect, inadequate governance, and a lack of political will to address the root causes of the unrest. The humanitarian crisis that has unfolded as a result of the road closures is a damning indictment of the state’s failure to protect its citizens. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has been slow to respond to the crisis. It was only after widespread criticism and an All-Parties Conference (APC) in December that serious attention was paid to the deteriorating situation in Kurram. But even the APC and the eventual peace deal appear to be stopgap measures rather than a comprehensive strategy for lasting peace.

Experts have rightly warned that the recent agreement is akin to a tinderbox – ready to ignite at the slightest provocation. The decades-old land disputes in Kurram, compounded by deeply entrenched sectarian divides, require far more than ad-hoc peace deals. A meaningful and sustainable resolution demands that the state engage with all stakeholders in a manner that addresses the root causes of the conflict, ensures equitable resource allocation, and fosters trust among the communities. The KP government’s negligence in the initial stages of the conflict has already cost over a hundred lives; both the provincial and the federal governments now have to take proactive steps to prevent the resurgence of violence. This includes enforcing the peace agreement’s terms in a manner that is inclusive and fair, avoiding the alienation of any group, and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the beleaguered residents of Kurram without delay. The state must also address the ongoing healthcare and food crises in the district. The delayed dispatch of relief goods speaks to a broader failure of governance. The fact is that peace in Kurram cannot be achieved through coercion or temporary truces alone. It requires a sustained effort to dismantle the sectarian divide, address economic grievances, and ensure that rule of law prevails. The KP government must act decisively to not only enforce the current peace deal but also work towards a long-term plan that includes development, education, and inter-community dialogue. The cost of failure is too high. Should this peace deal collapse, the region risks descending into another cycle of bloodshed, with ripple effects that will be felt across the country. The state cannot afford to treat Kurram as a peripheral issue any longer.