Parachinar, March 29, 2025: After months of unrest, two warring tribes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram District have reached an eight-month peace agreement, facilitated by the government and local elders.
Jirga member Haji Kamal confirmed the agreement was finalized in the presence of Kurram Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed and other officials. According to sources, tribal elders, district administration officials, and key stakeholders participated in the negotiations to end hostilities.
Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed welcomed the development, calling it a “double joy” for the region ahead of Eid ul Fitr. Meanwhile, Jirga member Haji Asghar stated that authorities are working on reopening roads that have remained blocked due to ongoing tensions.
Kurram, home to over 600,000 residents, has long been a flashpoint for sectarian violence, but recent months have seen a sharp escalation in clashes. Since July 2024, violence has resulted in over 200 deaths, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis.
With the main highway linking Parachinar to Peshawar blocked for months, critical medicine and oxygen supplies dwindled. Reports suggested over 100 children may have died due to a severe shortage of medical supplies, though Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif denied these claims.
In January 2025, a grand peace jirga at Kohat Fort brokered a 14-point peace agreement between the rival factions. However, the fragile truce was tested in February when Assistant Commissioner Saeed Manan—who was mediating fresh clashes—was injured in a firing incident along with two others.
Following sustained efforts by security forces, peace has been gradually restored, and essential supplies have resumed reaching Kurram. In an effort to prevent further conflict, authorities have dismantled several tribal bunkers across Upper and Lower Kurram in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has announced bounties ranging from Rs3 million to Rs30 million on 14 terrorists linked to the recent violence. The CTD claimed these individuals were responsible for over 200 assassinations and were associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
With the latest peace agreement in place, authorities and tribal leaders remain hopeful that sustained dialogue will lead to long-term stability in the troubled region.
