Dismantling of bunkers begins in troubled Kurram

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PESHAWAR:

Many can breathe a sigh of relief in the volatile tribal district of Kurram as the process of demolishing/dismantling bunkers began on Monday. According to the peace agreement, all bunkers will be dismantled by February.

Many locals will be hoping that this exercise can restore lasting peace to a region where violent clashes have resulted in hundreds of lives being lost over the last few months.

The government has signed a peace agreement between the two parties in the Kurram district to establish law and order, which includes the demolition of all bunkers in the region.

According to K-P Information Adviser Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, in light of the peace agreement and the Apex Committee's decision, two bunkers were demolished on Monday. Under the supervision of the Grand Peace Jirga and local peace committees, security forces demolished the bunkers at Jannat Khan Morcha (Khar Khel) and Jalandhar Morcha (Balish Khel).

Kohat Commissioner Muttasim Bilal had consulted with the local population regarding the demolition of the bunkers. As per the Apex Committee's decision and the peace agreement, all bunkers will be dismantled. The removal of the bunkers is considered essential for restoring peace in the area.

During the demolition, security forces were stationed in Kurram Balishkhel and Khar Khel. Helicopters conducted aerial surveillance in Kurram Balishkhel. According to the district administration, the demolition of the bunkers will continue until all are removed, as per the government's decision. Under the Apex Committee's directive, weapons are also being collected. Additionally, any violations of the peace agreement will result in action by the government, as stipulated in the agreement.

As per reports from the troubled region on Sunday, the district administration in Kurram was scheduled to begin dismantling bunkers that had fueled ongoing conflict in the region, with the process kicking off on Monday.

Kurram Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Khan said that according to the peace agreement, all bunkers in the district will be demolished and weapons collected by February 1.

He said that law enforcement personnel would accompany the teams to the demolition sites. He added that after the security clearance, aid convoys would be dispatched to the region.

Meanwhile, Section 144 remains in effect in Kurram.

The demolition orders for the bunkers were issued a day earlier in line with the decisions of the provincial apex committee and the peace agreement.

The executive engineer (EXEN) of the Communication and Works department for Upper and Lower Kurram was instructed to be present on-site with the necessary tools and workers for the bunker demolition.

According to the notification, initially, one bunker from each of the two villages will be dismantled, and a 14-member government team will be sent to both villages to carry out the task.

On January 8, a convoy of 40 vehicles, carrying essential supplies, was finally dispatched to Kurram after being delayed for five days in Thall.

On Saturday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi urged the federal government and armed forces to intervene urgently to restore stability. He blamed the PTI-led provincial government for "failing to prevent the crisis", which he said had worsened the situation in the region.