The Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Boshehra, Upper Kurram, sustained injuries in a shooting carried out by unidentified assailants, police reported on Friday. The attack marks another challenge to ongoing peace efforts in the conflict-prone region.
Last month, a peace agreement was reached between rival tribes in Kurram, aimed at restoring stability. However, the accord faced an early setback when Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud was injured in a shooting incident. Despite subsequent efforts by law enforcement, the situation stabilized, and the flow of essential supplies to the region resumed after months of disruption.
The latest attack on AC Saeed Manan has once again raised concerns about security in the area. According to police, Manan was in the region with law enforcement personnel when he was targeted. He was immediately transported to a hospital for medical treatment, while security forces launched a search operation to track down the perpetrators.
In response to the incident, a grand jirga has convened at the Commissioner House in Kohat to reinforce peace efforts in Kurram. The gathering is attended by Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, along with Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed. The jirga includes military officials, members of the peace committee, and tribal elders representing both Upper and Lower Kurram.
This attack follows a recent security operation on January 16, in which a soldier lost his life, and six terrorists were killed after security forces retaliated against an assault on an aid convoy carrying essential supplies to Kurram.
Despite the security concerns, the provincial administration remains committed to implementing the peace agreement. Earlier this week, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Chaudhry reaffirmed that the agreement would be enforced “at any cost” with the cooperation of both tribal factions.
Meanwhile, local residents have begun to see some economic relief as supply routes reopen. The arrival of aid convoys has led to a decline in the prices of essential commodities, easing hardships caused by prolonged shortages. The recent influx of vegetables into local markets has further contributed to price stabilization.
