Following the peace agreement in the tribal district of Kurram, efforts to bring some semblance of normalcy to the volatile region have begun. Tribal elders and representatives who participated in the grand jirga have returned to their respective areas.
According to sources, these elders will inform the local population about the proposed measures agreed upon in the jirga. They will also educate the community on the provisions of the peace agreement and their responsibilities under it.
Once steps are taken to fully implement the peace agreement at the local level, normalcy is expected to resume. The agreement includes measures such as the surrender of weapons and the dismantling of bunkers.
As implementation begins, local roads, pathways, markets, and business centers will be reopened, marking a significant step towards restoring daily life in the region.
After weeks of discussions, a significant milestone for peace in Kurram was achieved 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, K-P 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 on Wednesday.
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, emphasising 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.
During the 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 the Jirga, it was agreed that both parties would surrender their weapons, avoiding the need for an operation.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ