Road re-opening in Kurram

The decision by the Shia Turi and Sunni Bangash tribes in sectarian-torn Kurram Agency to re-open the Parachinar-Thall Road comes as a moment to celebrate for everyone living in that region. For years, the road has remained blocked — cutting off people living in the higher reaches of the region from the rest of the country. The result has been a state of siege, with severe food and medicine shortages in Parachinar. People have been forced to take routes through Afghanistan to travel south and there have been multiple attacks, usually of a sectarian nature, on people travelling along that road.

The fact that the road can now be re-used again is thus excellent news. The real question though is if the accord that makes this possible, and seems to be based around an agreement reached in Murree in 2008 can be sustained. Past agreements have repeatedly broken down; oddly enough the last one reached was brokered by the Taliban — who should, of course, have no role in the matter.

Ultimately of course it is the State which must take responsibility for upholding peace in Kurram and protecting the people who have lived in such hardship for the last four years. The question that arises is whether it is capable of this. Its security apparatus has over the years failed to keep the Highway safe. Can it do so now? We can only wonder. But it is vital the State work to enforce its writ over all its territory — and also prove to people it is capable of protecting them. So far those that live in Parachinar have no confidence in this ability of authorities to protect lives. The same holds true for those who live elsewhere. What is vital at this point is that peace be restored in Kurram, the vital Thall-Parachinar Road be kept open and the factors that have destroyed peace in the area — including the role played by militants — examined in depth so that further violence can be prevented.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2011.