Warring tribes in Kurram agree to peace deal

Both parties signed a peace agreement, agreeing to surrender weapons and demolish bunkers for lasting peace.

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After so many deliberations and weeks of discussions, a significant milestone for peace in Kurram was achieved today with the conclusion of a Grand Jirga held in Kohat as both parties involved in the negotiations signed a peace agreement, marking a crucial step toward stability in the region.

While announcing the development, KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif revealed that one of the warring parties had signed the peace agreement a few days ago, while the other side signed it today.

Barrister Saif confirmed that both parties had agreed to surrender their weapons and demolish their bunkers.

He stated that the peace agreement would usher in a "new era of peace and development" for the district, emphasizing that calm and security would soon be restored in the once-restive region.

According to Express News, the three-week-long Jirga concluded earlier today under the supervision of the Kohat Division Commissioner Moatasim Billah Shah. The agreement signifies mutual cooperation between the parties, the government, and local administration to ensure lasting peace in Kurram.

As part of the peace accord, both parties have committed to the dismantling of private bunkers in Kurram and the collection of weapons. Furthermore, the government has agreed to open up access to Kurram once peace is established.

In a proactive move, the government plans to establish a special force consisting of 399 members to safeguard the routes leading to Kurram. This force will be tasked with ensuring security in the region.

The formal announcement of the Kurram Peace Agreement will take place at the Governor House in Peshawar, and both parties are bound by the decisions made during the Apex Committee's meetings.

Sources have confirmed that one party had already signed the peace agreement earlier, while the second party requested additional time for consultation, ultimately signing the agreement today.

During today’s Jirga, it was also decided that the decisions made during the Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar would be implemented. If either party had any concerns, they were advised to approach the Kohat Commissioner or the Divisional Commissioner so that the government could address the concerns promptly.

The parties were given until February 1 to implement the agreement. Within one month, both parties are required to dismantle their bunkers, which were previously constructed for attacks against the other side, and hand over their weapons to the provincial government.

Sources mentioned that the bunkers and weapons would be dismantled and collected under the supervision of the administration. The one-month deadline was set to ensure that neither party would claim there was insufficient time to comply.

The Jirga also discussed what would happen if a party failed to surrender their weapons. Just a day before, the issue had been debated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, where members strongly opposed any military operation. However, during today’s Jirga, it was agreed that both parties would surrender their weapons, avoiding the need for an operation.

According to our correspondent, the roads leading to Kurram will remain closed until peace is firmly established. If the parties fail to surrender their weapons and dismantle their bunkers, the road closures will persist.

However, the provincial government has maintained a helicopter service to provide essential medical and food supplies. Once peace is assured, all roads to Kurram will be reopened.

Earlier, a persisting deadlock had prevented the Grand Jirga from finalizing the peace agreement as protests against road closures in the district continued for the ninth consecutive day.

The agreement could not be signed due to a lack of attendance from Jirga members. According to sources, while both parties had agreed on many points of the agreement, one party had reservations about a clause requiring the deposit of heavy weapons with tribal elders.

During the Jirga, various points were discussed, and one party had suggested that weapons should be submitted to the government by both sides. However, the authorities made it clear to the Jirga members that the government would not take the risk of opening the roads unless heavy weapons were surrendered first.

This deadlock led to protests in various parts of the country, particularly in Karachi, where road blockages and traffic jams disrupted daily life for residents.

The protests were fueled by the continued closure of key routes, including the Parachinar-Peshawar Main Road, which had been closed for two and a half months, halting all supplies to Upper Kurram.

It is important to note that the dispute in Kurram is over a piece of land that both parties have claimed ownership of for over a century. Over time, various issues have added to the complexity of the situation, further escalating the conflict.