Ceasefire fails to end bloodshed in Kurram

Another eight killed, raising the death toll to 44 over six days of intense gunbattles

DI KHAN:

A ceasefire may have been bartered between tribes warring over a land dispute in Kurram district, but that did not stop certain quarters from both sides to continue with their gun battles for a sixth consecutive day. Between Sunday and Monday evening, another eight people were killed in deadly shootouts as the tribespeople continue the offensive against each other.

With both sides blatantly violating the ceasefire, the death toll from six days of fighting has risen to 44, while at least 177 people were left injured.

According to Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah, there has been a ceasefire in Boshera. In other areas, however, the administration forces and peace jirga are putting their best foot forward to enforce the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the police and administration have taken over some bunkers, which were being used by the tribespeople, to attack one other in Kohat and Hangu. Roads to major cities other parts of the country remained blocked as local protested against the violence and wanted to see an immediate end to the attacks.

As of Sunday ngith, the death toll from clashes between the warring Shia and Sunni tribespeople hit 36 with 145 wounded. The jirga managed to negotiate a ceasefire to end the gun battles, but the piling casualties of the next day proved that not all sides were on the same page. The fierce gun battles have continued since Wednesday of last week, and turned the tribal district into a war zone.

Police reported that a jirga comprising members of security forces, police notables, and local tribespeople from both sides agreed to a 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.

However, reports from the area emerged on Monday which suggested that some of the trenches were still being used by the armed tribespeople to target each other.

The clashes between the Boshera and Mali Khel tribes started with light skirmishes, but soon escalated into all-out battles with both sides resorting to using their heavy weapons.

Security forces arrived in armoured vehicles and warned both two sides to stop the feud.

Former MNA and federal minister Sajjid Turi, as well as MNA Hameed Hussain, had been urging the warring tribesmen to avoid fighting with each other for days.

Even after the ceasefire was announced on Sunday evening, tension 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 six 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.