Kurram: A peace agreement has been reached between the conflicting parties in the restive Kurram district for a period of eight months.
According to Human Online correspondent Hakeem Noor Mangal, the agreement mandates both parties to strictly adhere to its terms and comply fully with the Kohat Peace Agreement. It further states that any untoward incident occurring on the roads will be dealt with under the legal provisions of the Kohat Agreement. Additionally, all matters will be resolved through dialogue.
The agreement also emphasizes full cooperation with the administration from both sides. A crucial jirga (tribal council) was convened at Qila Abbas, Sadda, to facilitate the peace process, with advisers from both sides in attendance. The primary objective of the jirga was to restore peace in the region.
Representatives from both factions agreed to uphold the truce for eight months to prevent further conflicts and improve the situation in the area. Additionally, it was decided that the government and state institutions would formally announce the reopening of roads to ease public hardships and restore transportation facilities.
It is worth noting that on January 1, 2025, a grand jirga that had been deliberating the Kurram situation in Kohat for three weeks concluded, with both sides signing an agreement.
Earlier, jirga member Malik Thawab Khan had stated that both parties were bound to comply with the decisions made by the Apex Committee, and all concerns had been addressed. He mentioned that the agreement would be officially announced at the Peshawar Governor House, with both factions having agreed to 14 key points.
Providing further details, Malik Thawab Khan noted that no party would be allowed to possess unlicensed weapons, and both sides had agreed to vacate bunkers. Weapons would be surrendered under government supervision.
Despite the agreement, tensions remained high in Kurram, with multiple attacks reported on convoys carrying aid to Parachinar.
On March 9, the Kurram District Bar Association addressed a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, highlighting the five-month-long blockade of local roads. The letter outlined how road closures had led to severe shortages of essential commodities and medicines in the tribal district.
The association further stated that the blockade had resulted in financial losses, casualties, and fuel shortages, significantly impacting the education sector in the region.
