Saving Kurram

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s hope for lasting peace in Kurram district is a welcome gesture, but it will only mean anything if it is backed by sustained action. The gradual improvement in the area following a peace deal between the warring factions, as well as the delivery of essential goods, offer a glimmer of hope for a region that has seen more than its share of tragedy recently. The state though cannot afford complacency. The clashes in Kurram last year claimed over 130 lives and left more than 180 injured. A decades-old land dispute, exacerbated by sectarian tensions with roots in the Afghan jihad era, spiraled into a humanitarian crisis. Unfortunately, despite repeated warnings and pleas from locals and political figures, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government failed to act decisively when violence first erupted in July. This inaction allowed a localised land dispute to morph into a broader sectarian conflict with repercussions beyond Kurram. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has attributed the delayed response to the provincial government led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. This is not far off the mark in one sense – and timely intervention could have curtailed the violence, prevented bloodshed, and mitigated the ensuing humanitarian crisis. Road closures further compounded the situation, leading to shortages of food, medicine, and other essential goods, while the KP government remained preoccupied with its political priorities.

The neglect, however, is not new. Since 2013, the PTI has governed KP for three consecutive terms, well aware of the persistent issues plaguing Kurram. From sectarian undercurrents to land disputes, the challenges are not unfamiliar. Yet, instead of addressing these proactively, the KP government has continued to focus on political manoeuvring. The negligence has left Kurram’s residents to fend for themselves as violence escalated. While the recent peace deal is a significant step forward, the situation remains precarious and Kurram’s long history of conflict makes it a tinderbox that could reignite without careful management. The state and KP government must adopt a multi-pronged approach to ensure that peace is not fleeting but enduring.

To start with, the KP government must show genuine commitment to resolving Kurram’s underlying issues. This includes addressing the longstanding land dispute and fostering dialogue between sectarian communities to build trust. Proactive measures like deploying mediators and forming community-based conflict resolution committees can help prevent future flare-ups. But this is not all. And this is where the larger state comes in – because it is by no means going to get away with just dumping the whole issue on KP. The state must ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential goods and services to the region. The successful delivery of two convoys carrying food and medicines is a step in the right direction, but it must be part of a sustained effort to rebuild trust and address the humanitarian needs of Kurram’s residents. The federal and provincial governments must also collaborate to monitor and maintain the peace deal. This involves deploying adequate security forces to prevent any resurgence of violence and holding accountable those who incite conflict or disrupt the peace process. Essentially, what our governments need to remember is that neglect of volatile regions not only endangers lives but also threatens national stability. Kurram’s residents deserve more than assurances and delayed actions. They need a government – federal, provincial, local – that prioritises their safety, addresses their grievances, and ensures that their region no longer serves as a battleground for sectarian or political conflicts. The peace achieved in Kurram may be fragile, but with consistent effort and accountability, it can lead to lasting stability.