Govt to dismantle bunkers, deweaponise Kurram district

A top civil-military huddle has agreed on decisive actions to restore normalcy in the Kurram tribal district which continues to smolder almost a month after a deadly ambush on a convoy of passengers' vehicle reignited sectarian unrest in the region sitting on the powder keg.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa apex committee, which convened on Friday, resolved to dismantle all the bunkers dug by the warring tribes and deweaponise their fighters to prevent relapse of fighting in the region, according to a statement issued after the session.

Under the newly unveiled framework, the government will broker a deal between the belligerent tribes whereby they will submit within 15 days a voluntary disarmament plan. All weapons will be surrendered to the administration, and all bunkers will be demolished by February 1.

Ali Amin Khan Gandapur presided over the apex committee meeting held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat and attended by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Omer Bukhari, Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Inspector General of K-P Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur and other senior civil and military officials.

The committee unanimously agreed to reopen land routes temporarily on humanitarian grounds. To ensure safety, joint police and Frontier Corps (FC) teams will secure the routes. Moreover, an air service will also be started on an emergency basis to address the transportation issue of the public for which helicopters would be provided by federal and provincial governments.

The forum urged both warring parties to avoid any violent act; otherwise, the administration will be left with no option but to close the road connectivity again. Similarly, it was also decided to block all social media accounts spreading sectarian hatred in the district.

The apex committee also reviewed the security situation in Tirah and Jani Khel, noting an increase in terrorist activities. Temporary relocations of residents from vulnerable areas may be implemented to safeguard lives and property, and residents were urged to cooperate with the government to expel miscreants.

The apex committee stressed that the Kurram issue was not just a local but national issue of serious nature adding that no one would be allowed to make political point-scoring on the issue. It was stated that both the provincial and federal governments and other stakeholders were united in their approach to addressing the issue.

The meeting underscored that the Kurram conflict is a national issue of critical importance. "We will not allow anyone to politicise this matter," the statement read, condemning political leaders for exploiting the crisis.

The provincial and federal governments, alongside all relevant institutions, reaffirmed their unified approach to resolving the issue. Contrary to rumours, the deaths of children in the area were not linked to the ongoing conflict, the committee clarified.

The provincial government reiterated its commitment to resolving the matter through traditional jirgas, expressing hope that both parties would cooperate fully for a sustainable solution.

The committee also announced timely provision of medicines and essential supplies to Kurram, where road closures due to security concerns have caused shortages. "Private bunkers will be dismantled at all costs," the apex committee statement said.

Chief Minister Gandapur said, "The federal government should take steps to establish peace and order in the province." Meanwhile, Interior Minister Naqvi affirmed the federal government's determination to maintain peace, ensuring that actions would be taken at every level.

The meeting also paid tribute to security personnel who sacrificed their lives combating terrorism, recognising their contributions to peace efforts.

According to the statement, Interior Minister Naqvi said that lasting peace was not possible without the eradication of bunkers and weapons.

Ahead of Friday's meeting, Naqvi and Gandapur held discussions on ensuring lasting peace in Kurram, with the former pledging "every possible cooperation" to bolster the capabilities of law enforcement agencies. "We will fully support enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in K-P. Establishing peace in Kurram is our top priority," the federal interior minister was quoted as saying.

Furthermore, the provincial government has decided to provide wheat to Kurram residents at subsidised rates, with immediate steps directed by the Food Department and district administration to mitigate the residents' hardships.