Tug-of-war: Disputed territory to be handed over to centre
Residents of Kohistan have blocked KKH at Harban Nala while the people in G-B have closed the highway from their side
Residents of Kohistan have blocked KKH at Harban Nala while the people in G-B have closed the highway from their side. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
KOHISTAN:
To avert expected conflict and clear the four-day long Karakoram Highway (KKH) blockade, the federal government is likely to take over the disputed territory between Kohistan and G-B till the boundary commission’s decision, shared sources.
Residents of Kohistan have blocked the KKH at Harban Nala while the people of Thordas in G-B have closed the highway from their side over a disputed 10-kilometre (km) strip between the two areas near Basri Nala. Both parties are reportedly armed as and ‘rightful ownership.’ Secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa home and tribal affairs, DIG Hazara and other senior officials from G-B are engaged in negotiations. The issue cropped up again after a five-year hiatus.
Officials have so far been unable to convince people to remove barricades and clear the highway. The KKH is the only land route between G-B, China and the rest of the country.
However, on Thursday, officials from both sides met and decided to hand over the disputed territory to the federal government. According to Kohistan Sub-Inspector Police Investigation Siddiq Khan, the two sides have agreed to hand over the 10-km area to the centre until the decision of the boundary commission is announced. He said till the decision of the commission, military troops could be deployed to help avoid armed conflict.
Khan added tribal elders from both sides have been tasked to persuade their people to end the blockade which has created food shortages in G-B and Kohistan, paralyzing the areas.
According to sources, despite efforts by the authorities, protesters could not be persuaded to clear off the KKH.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2013.
To avert expected conflict and clear the four-day long Karakoram Highway (KKH) blockade, the federal government is likely to take over the disputed territory between Kohistan and G-B till the boundary commission’s decision, shared sources.
Residents of Kohistan have blocked the KKH at Harban Nala while the people of Thordas in G-B have closed the highway from their side over a disputed 10-kilometre (km) strip between the two areas near Basri Nala. Both parties are reportedly armed as and ‘rightful ownership.’ Secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa home and tribal affairs, DIG Hazara and other senior officials from G-B are engaged in negotiations. The issue cropped up again after a five-year hiatus.
Officials have so far been unable to convince people to remove barricades and clear the highway. The KKH is the only land route between G-B, China and the rest of the country.
However, on Thursday, officials from both sides met and decided to hand over the disputed territory to the federal government. According to Kohistan Sub-Inspector Police Investigation Siddiq Khan, the two sides have agreed to hand over the 10-km area to the centre until the decision of the boundary commission is announced. He said till the decision of the commission, military troops could be deployed to help avoid armed conflict.
Khan added tribal elders from both sides have been tasked to persuade their people to end the blockade which has created food shortages in G-B and Kohistan, paralyzing the areas.
According to sources, despite efforts by the authorities, protesters could not be persuaded to clear off the KKH.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2013.