Unresolved grievances fuel endless violence in Kurram

While the local administration, with support from the police, Frontier Corps, and other security forces, may have destroyed a few bunkers in Kurram, lasting peace in the newly merged tribal district remains elusive until a comprehensive strategy is adopted.

The nature of disputes in Kurram — framed as either tribal disputes or sectarian clashes — are deeply complex and not limited to recent incidents, such as the attack on a convoy or retaliatory violence by one sect against Bagan village. Reports indicate that during the violence in Bagan, homes were set ablaze and women were abducted — an aspect rarely highlighted in coverage of major conflicts between tribal or settled districts in recent history. However, such incidents are not unprecedented in sectarian strife in the region. The abduction of women, in particular, has occurred in previous skirmishes or ‘lashkar kashi’ (militia mobilisation) as well.

The fragile security situation in Kurram cannot be measured from a single aspect. While sectarianism is frequently highlighted whenever violence erupts, it is only one of seven underlying sources of tension in the erstwhile tribal agency.

A major source of tension in the district is land disputes, particularly over unmarked communal lands known locally as ‘shamilat’, an issue highlighted during the caretaker government’s tenure in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

"The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa caretaker government formed a Land Boundaries Commission, which submitted a comprehensive report on Kurram District within six months, detailing ownership, disputed areas, and potential solutions," a senior officer told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. The commission comprised the Secretary of the Settlement and Land Record (SMBR), the commissioner of Kohat, the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioners of Kurram, local patwaris, and multiple tehsildars familiar with the region’s land issues.

The report they prepared clearly outlined who owned what parcel of land ownership and which areas belonged to which tribe or sect. "Unfortunately, the caretaker government was restrained by the central government, which directed that the report should not be made public for the sake of public safety," the officer revealed.

The second major factor behind the recent disputes between Shia and Sunni tribes is the district government’s reluctance to take decisive action, fearing widespread unrest.

"Previously, minor incidents in the district were resolved through Jirgas, where the local administration would place the ‘Aman Tigga’ (peace stone) between the opposing sides, settling the issue within a set timeframe," a source explained. "Unfortunately, this time, the conflict has dragged on because one side's grievances were left unaddressed."

A volatile pattern

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a source described the recent attacks on convoys in Kurram as more than just isolated incidents. The initial October 12, 2024 attack, which targeted a convoy carrying members of the Sunni sect as it passed through a predominantly Shia area and left 17 dead, was ‘pre-planned’, the source claimed.

"The Sunni villagers from Sadda village were traveling to Upper Kurram for the funeral of their Sunni relatives when their convoy was stopped at Kunj Alizai,” a former police officer from the area narrated. “All members of the convoy, including women, notable figures and children, were killed," he said.

In response, the Sunni jirga has sought assistance from the local administration, demanding the arrest of those they believe to be involved in the October 12 attack. The participants of the jirga insist that the perpetrators, who carried out the attack in ‘broad daylight’, are well known to locals in the area.

Local authorities confirmed that the Shia communities in the region were directed to hand over those accused of carrying out the attack, but they have constantly refused to do so. Since October 14 last year, when the district administration failed to address the demands of the Sunni community jirga, the Shia communities anticipated a retaliation to take place.

Fearing reprisals, Shia residents halted travel towards Lower Kurram, Sadda, Kohat and Peshawar and demanded security guarantees when passing through Sunni-majority areas. Meanwhile, the Kurram deputy commissioner insisted on the surrender of the accused individuals from the Shia side.

To press their demand for road protection in Sunni areas, the Shia community staged a protest from Parachinar to Balash Khelo, blocking roads leading to Upper Kurram, a source reported. After negotiations between the Shia community and the district administration, an agreement was reached, allowing three convoys to travel to Peshawar with police and FC providing security.

However, it is worth noting that Sunni grievances remained unaddressed. While roads were reopened for all types of transport and a sense of normalcy returned, no further investigation was conducted into the Sunni community’s claims or the loss of 17 lives.

On November 21, 2024, two convoys — one traveling from Parachinar to Peshawar and the other from the provincial capital to Kurram District — were attacked by Sunni tribes at three different locations. The assaults claimed more than 15 lives, including women and children. These attacks enraged the Shia community, further escalating tensions in the region. Meanwhile, the district administration failed to ensure security at the designated checkpoints, despite prior concerns over road safety.

On the other hand, residents of Bagan had signed a truce with the Shia community of Parachinar in the recent past, asserting that their conflict was with the Sunni-majority area of Sadda, not with Bagan. As a result, Bagan residents sought to remain neutral in the ongoing Shia-Sunni disputes.

The use of the Alizai route by Shia residents in order to bypass Sadda, became a point of contention. The Sunni community of Sadda reportedly pressured Bagan residents to provide safe passage for attacks on Shia convoys passing through the area. However, Bagan elders refused, urging locals to stay out of the sectarian conflict.

"Despite having no involvement in the Shia-Sunni dispute, on November 22, the Shia tribes of Kurram launched an attack on Bagan. The entire commercial district and residential areas were set on fire. In the attack, 25 people were killed, several notable figures were slaughtered and women and girls were abducted," a source claimed.

“It is worth noting that Bagan had no disputes over land or sectarian issues with any tribe. The community became a victim of miscalculation,” the source explained.

The district administration conducted a damage assessment for compensation, covering property losses and casualties. Authorities also pledged to recover the kidnapped women, though they remain in captivity. “Food, medicine, and other essential supplies remained scarce until December, yet the district administration remained reluctant to take concrete action to address the crisis,” the source said. However, reports of the deaths of newborn babies and children, as well as overall casualties among both Shia and Sunni communities, were allegedly exaggerated, according to the source. In response, a committee has been formed to investigate the deaths of children during the road closures in Kurram.

In the meantime, two demonstrations took place despite the truce between the Shia and Sunni tribes. The Shia community demanded the resumption of normal road services to Peshawar and other parts of the country, while the Sunni community called for compensation for the attack on Bagan.

“Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud engaged with both sides following the truce, urging the reopening of road services and adherence to government authority,” the source said. “However, tensions escalated, and an exchange of harsh words led to gunfire. Javedullah Mehsud, his guard, and FC personnel were attacked.”

In response, the government has decided to launch operations in the Sunni-majority area of Bagan in Lower Kurram, where the DC and government-sponsored convoys were attacked.

Towards a solution

One more major factor in the ongoing violence in Kurram is the presence of heavily armed parties on either side. Both groups have access to heavy weapons that include high-calibre anti-aircraft guns, night vision equipment and small arms and other kit left behind by NATO forces once deployed in Afghanistan.

To restore peace, the government must conduct sweeping military operations without bias towards any religious affiliation. Additionally, both factions have established permanent bunkers equipped with living facilities. These should be dismantled, and only government-controlled security posts, staffed by personnel from other districts, should be permitted.

The Tall-Parachinar road remains highly dangerous for both sects, with neither side able to travel safely. Sectarian tensions continue to be at an alarming level. To ensure road security, a dedicated road force should be established, incorporating multiple layers of security, including military and police personnel.

Despite the truce agreed between Shia and Sunni tribes, peace has yet to be fully restored. The Sunni community’s grievances remain unaddressed, particularly their demand for accountability in the killing of 17 Sunni members. Additionally, the abducted women have not been released, and Bagan — despite not being a party to the sectarian conflict — still has missing men and women, sources stressed.

Meanwhile, the dispute has now extended beyond the battlefield to social media. Platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter Spaces have turned into virtual battlegrounds, further fuelling tensions.

Religious scholars from both sides are further fuelling tribal tensions as well. Their Friday sermons and religious gatherings should be closely monitored to prevent incitement.

For the distribution of essential supplies, Sunni representatives should be held accountable for food transportation in their areas, while Shia representatives should oversee distribution in theirs. To restore law and order, the government must reimpose Section 40 of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) under specific circumstances to reinforce its authority. Bagan, being the worst affected area, requires urgent government intervention for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

A lasting resolution to the conflict in Kurram requires more than temporary truces and localised security actions. The government must adopt a comprehensive, impartial strategy that addresses the core issues stoking the violence, from sectarian divides and land disputes to the proliferation of heavy weaponry. Ensuring justice for all victims, securing key transport routes and clamping down on inflammatory rhetoric are crucial steps toward long-term stability. Without decisive action, Kurram will remain trapped in a cycle of violence, with each new incident threatening to reignite broader conflict.