Ceasefire agreement may be reached in Kurram soon, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government expressed hope

Peshawar: Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Ali Saif has expressed hope that a ceasefire agreement will soon be signed between the warring tribes in Kurram district. Speaking to Erie News, Barrister Saif said that the Jirga on the status of Kurram in Kohat has been delayed for two days as one of the parties has taken time for consultation.

Speaking to Erie News, Barrister Saif said that the Jirga on the status of Kurram in Kohat has been delayed for two days as one of the parties has taken time for consultation.

Strict action against violation of agreement

Despite the delay, Saif is hopeful that the warring tribes will soon reach a ceasefire and the agreement will be signed within a day or two, Erie News reported. “Once the agreement is signed, it will be closely monitored and strict action will be taken against anyone violating the agreement,” he said.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet had already declared Kurram disaster-hit, imposing emergency amid acute shortage of food and medicine supplies due to road closures following violent sectarian attacks in the district that killed more than 100 people.

Oath to protect lives and properties of citizens

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stressed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is working to resolve the issues through dialogue and tribal councils. He vowed to protect the lives and properties of citizens without compromising the authority of the government.

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Officials told the meeting that the roads would be reopened only after an agreement between the parties concerned. Arya News said that social media accounts spreading communal hatred will be blocked.

130 people died in violence

At least 130 people died and many were injured in the violence in Kurram. Dawn news outlet reported that the clashes began after an attack on a convoy, which left at least 43 people dead.

shortage of food and medicine

Residents of Kurram have reported food and medicine shortages in parts of the district bordering Afghanistan, as the government struggles to end renewed fighting between tribes stemming from decades-old land disputes. To resolve the issue, a Jirga continues to strive for long-term peace in the district. The jirga has been negotiating with members of both warring tribes, but a permanent peace agreement remains elusive.

According to Dawn, the provincial government has already said that the situation in Kurram will return to normal only when the armed groups voluntarily hand over heavy weapons and vacate the bunkers, which are being used to target each other.

Amid these efforts, the Supreme Committee of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unanimously decided that both sides in the Kurram conflict would surrender their weapons within 15 days.

(with agency input)