A ceasefire has been reached between two warring tribes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district, according to the Deputy Commissioner.
This comes after deadly clashes that have left 130 people dead and 186 injured. The violence, which started 11 days ago, escalated after two police-escorted convoys were ambushed on November 21, killing 52 people. Since then, clashes between the tribes have continued, and police have struggled to control the situation.
The violence led to the deployment of police and security forces in the area, and armed tribesmen were removed from firing positions. The region has been facing a communication blackout, with mobile phones and internet services cut off. Schools are also closed, and the closure of the main highway has caused disruptions in local transportation and halted trade with Afghanistan, particularly at the Kharlachi border.
Earlier this week, a 10-day ceasefire was brokered, but it was not effective as the violence resumed soon after. In a statement, the Deputy Commissioner said that tribal leaders (jirga participants) would work to speak with elders to reopen roads and reach a peace agreement. Elders and parliamentarians from the Kohat Division are also expected to visit Kurram district to help secure a peace deal.
Last weekend, a high-level delegation, including KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and IGP Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, tried to negotiate a ceasefire, but violence quickly resumed. On Saturday, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur held a jirga in Kohat with tribal elders, where he called for strong actions to restore peace in Kurram. He ordered the demolition of dugouts used by rival tribes and the seizure of their weapons.
The Chief Minister also directed authorities to help resettle people who have been displaced by the violence and ensure that victims are compensated for their losses. He said the weapons in the hands of the rival tribes would be confiscated and kept by the administration until peace is restored. He also urged the government to take action against individuals spreading hate on social media.
In his final remarks, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for cooperation from citizens in order to bring peace to the region and called for an immediate ceasefire and the implementation of previous peace agreements.