Fortunately, there are reports that the warring tribes in Kurram have agreed to a one-year peace deal. The clashes, which began on July 7 over a land dispute, resulted in 11 deaths and 70 injuries.
Despite the ceasefire deal agreed upon by the parties for a year, clashes among tribal factions continue to occur in certain areas of the Kurram district. Kohat Deputy Commissioner Dr. Azmat announced that they will charge a fine of Rs120 million in case of future violations of the peace deal.
The conflict caused a shortage of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and fuel in the affected areas. Even the educational institutions in the area remained closed. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the interim provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) requested additional military and paramilitary troops from the federal government to restore peace.
In an effort to mediate, authorities dispatched a 30-member jirga. It comprised tribal elders, who were sent to the area to conduct negotiations with the warring parties. Parachinar, the district headquarters of Kurram, has a history of sectarian strife. A leader from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in KP, Faisal Karim Kundi, also urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene before the month of Muharram begins. He emphasized that people on social media falsely label a land dispute between two tribes as a sectarian issue.
On Monday, a delegation from Kurram addressed a news conference in Islamabad, expressing dissatisfaction with the authorities’ response. They claimed that terrorists from Afghanistan infiltrated the area and attacked civilians, in addition to damaging the border fence.
They emphasized that the present conflict was not related to sectarian issues. He blamed the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi for inciting sectarian sentiments.
Given the seriousness of these claims, it has been important for the relevant authorities to investigate. Once law enforcement agencies restore peace, the government should take action to address the underlying land disputes. The formation of a high-level revenue commission by the KP government for land settlement has been a positive step. It aims to prevent future violent clashes over land claims.
Furthermore, the government has to address those who use social media to give a sectarian color to the clashes. Strict monitoring is in place, and those responsible for such incitement will face severe consequences. It is also crucial to engage local religious leaders from both sects to discourage them from inflaming sectarian passions. Parachinar has endured a prolonged period of sectarian violence but is currently experiencing an uneasy calm that should not be disrupted.
