The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet has declared a relief emergency in Kurram district, designating it as “disaster-hit” due to months-long tribal clashes, road closures, and acute shortages of essential supplies. The decision was announced during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
Provincial authorities have expedited relief operations to address the crisis, ensuring the delivery of food, medicines, and other necessities. A helicopter service has been launched, transporting over 220 people and delivering 10 tonnes of medical supplies to the affected region. Wheat is being provided at concessional rates to combat food shortages, while plans are underway to establish road safety checkpoints and reopen key routes following tribal agreements.
The clashes, which have claimed over 200 lives since July, escalated after a November attack on a security convoy, killing more than 40 people. Subsequent violence has resulted in 133 additional deaths and 177 injuries. Multiple jirgas have been held to negotiate a lasting peace between the conflicting tribes.
The KP government has also requested the deployment of Frontier Corps (FC) to restore order and issued directives to demolish bunkers and confiscate illegal heavy weapons in the area by February 1. To combat the spread of sectarian hatred, a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cell will be established to monitor social media.
Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized that the conflict stems from tribal disputes, not terrorism, while condemning those spreading sectarian narratives. He called for pragmatic measures to maintain peace, including classifying troublemakers as terrorists and taking unbiased action against them.
Additionally, the cabinet has approved grants for acquiring bomb-proof vehicles for district police officers and established a desk in the Home Department to regulate weapons licensing.
