PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stated on Wednesday that the prolonged conflict in Kurram tribal district was not merely a land dispute but was being instigated by foreign forces supplying weapons and explosives to fuel sectarian tensions.
Speaking to media representatives in Peshawar, CM Gandapur asserted that external elements were actively sponsoring sectarian violence in the region with the intent to destabilize the entire country. He emphasized that while land disputes are common, they do not typically escalate to such levels of widespread violence unless external forces are involved.
He reassured that the provincial government was taking decisive steps to restore peace in the conflict-ridden district. Recently, Rs2 billion was allocated for the installation of CCTV cameras and security pickets along key roads to strengthen security measures. Additionally, the government announced bounties on individuals responsible for the unrest, vowing to bring them to justice.
"Those engaged in militant activities will not be spared. They may evade capture temporarily, but ultimately, they will be caught and face severe punishment," the chief minister declared.
Meanwhile, the KP government reported on February 17 that over 150 bunkers had been dismantled in Kurram as part of an ongoing security operation, with a March 23 deadline for completion. Officials revealed that since October last year, 189 people had lost their lives in violent clashes, prompting the government to mediate a peace agreement. Furthermore, nine convoys carrying essential supplies have been dispatched to the area.
The Tall-Parachinar Road, the primary route linking Peshawar to Kurram, has remained closed for nearly four months due to the ongoing hostilities. The conflict escalated on November 22 when a convoy of 200 vehicles was ambushed in the Bagan area, leading to retaliatory arson attacks that destroyed over 500 shops and houses.
Following a government-mediated ceasefire on November 24, a temporary truce was reached, but sporadic violence continued. A peace agreement was eventually signed on January 1 through a jirga, but tensions persisted, with fresh attacks occurring in January, including one that left five security personnel dead. In response, the provincial government launched another crackdown on militants in the region.
