Ceasefire in Kurram as death toll hits 30
The death toll from clashes between warring Shia and Sunni tribespeople in Kurram hit 30 on Sunday, with 145 wounded. A jirga finally managed to negotiate a ceasefire to end the gun battles, which started over a land dispute, and had been continuing since Wednesday night.
Police reported that a jirga comprising members of security forces, police notables, and local tribespeople from both sides agreed to the ceasefire’s conditions. It was announced that the dug up trenches would be taken over by the local administration, while bodies of the deceased would be allowed to be retrieved from both sides.
The clashes between the Boshera and Mali Khel tribes started with light skirmishes on Wednesday night, but soon escalated into an all-out battle with both sides resorting to using their heavy weapons.
Roads to Peshawar and other areas remained closed till the filing of this report.
Security forces arrived in armoured vehicles and warned both sides to stop the feud. However, some gunfire was still reported from both ends.
Earlier, former MNA and federal minister Sajjid Turi and MNA Hameed Hussain urged the warring tribesmen to avoid fighting with each other.
On Sunday evening, the jirga announced a ceasefire, but tension still gripped much of the area.
Days of deadly clashes
On Saturday, the death toll from these deadly clashes stood at 15, increasing from a total of 10 the day before. Local residents told The Express Tribune that both the sides were armed with medium to heavy military grade weapons and openly used them.
According to the police and district administration, the fighting erupted four days ago over a land dispute in Boshehra and Malakhel in Kurram. The armed clashes spread to other areas like Pewar, Tangi, Balishkhel, Kharkale, Maqbal, Kunj Alizai, and Para Chamkani Karman where intense clashes continued. The main highway had been closed for traffic due to the tense situation, causing difficulties for the general public.
The main towns of the district like Parachinar and Sadda Bazaar were also being targeted with long range rockets, causing widespread panic. A peace jirga from Hangu and Orakzai arrived in the area to negotiate with the elders of both parties for a ceasefire, but these initial efforts failed.
On the other hand, the police and district administration lacked the resources to tackle the warring factions on their own.
On Friday, it was reported that the land dispute between Shia and Sunni tribes of the Kurram tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had claimed as many as 10 lives. That number rose to 15 by Saturday.
Initial skirmishes were reported between the Boshera and Mali Khel tribes. However, these altercations turned violent and deadly when both sides resorted to using their heavy weaponry, said official sources. Authorities were afraid that the number of casualties could would and their fears were realised on Saturday and Sunday as the fighting continued.
K-P Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur took notice of the clashes and ordered the district administration, as well as local police, to ensure a peace agreement is reached between both sides. He also ordered the local jirga to ensure a peace accord amongst the warring tribespeople.
The Awami National Party (ANP) had formed a special jirga to end the deadly clashes. The provincial president of the party, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, instructed the jirga to play its role in securing a ceasefire.