| T |
hree key provisions of the peace accord, signed on January 1 by Sunni and Shia representatives in Kohat, have been successfully implemented.
An essential step towards restoring long-term peace and securing vital transportation routes, the development has raised hopes that lasting peace can be restored in Kurram valley.
One of the central clauses of the Kohat Agreement was the disarmament of Kurram. Although implementation began nearly four months after the accord was signed, the voluntary surrender of weapons by both sides came as a major milestone. So far, at least a thousand bunkers have been demolished across the district.
In a strong show of support for the peace process, senior officials, including the General Officer Commanding of the 9th Division, Kohat, the commissioner of Kohat and the deputy inspector general of Kohat, visited Kurram on April 23. During meetings with members of the grand jirga and local elders, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to full implementation of the agreement
On the following Thursday, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah also visited the region, urging tribal elders to cooperate with the government in enforcing the terms of the peace deal.
The officials indicated that once the disarmament process is complete, the Thall-Parachinar Road, closed since the outbreak of violence in September last year, will be reopened for traffic. The road’s closure has caused severe shortages of food and medicine, compounding hardships for local communities.
The past year saw a sharp escalation in sectarian violence in Kurram, with deadly attacks claiming many lives and causing widespread destruction. Convoys were ambushed, markets torched and humanitarian aid looted. The situation deteriorated further as both sides used social media to spread hate speech, prompting the authorities to suspend 4G internet services in the area.
In response to the crisis, the provincial government launched a helicopter service to transport patients and overseas Pakistanis between Kurram and Peshawar. Although thousands of people have benefited from it, the single-helicopter service is clearly insufficient for a population of approximately 800,000.
Locals have mixed views on the ongoing disarmament process. After months of tension, recent developments suggest that peace is slowly returning to the troubled valley. While peace initiatives are beginning to show tangible results, some concerns remain.
Afzal Khan, a resident of Bagan in Kurram, told TNS that lasting peace is impossible in a region flooded with weapons. “We want all weapons, from Chapri to Teri Mangal, surrendered without discrimination. While voluntary disarmament is under way, the government must also launch a follow-up operation to recover hidden-away arms. Otherwise, one side may retain heavy weapons and use them against the other during an escalation,” he warned. Despite this, Khan expressed optimism that peace and development would follow disarmament.
Nasir Hussain Bangash, from Upper Kurram, highlighted the broad impact of the unrest. “Every sector in Kurram has suffered, especially health and education,” he said. “Development and construction projects have been halted and many NGOs have pulled out due to instability in the valley.”
He added that a militarised environment discourages youth from receiving education. “When a region is full of bunkers and weapons, young people are drawn to violence rather than classrooms,” he said. He called the disarmament campaign a ‘hopeful’ step. “Without these weapons, attacks on convoys and villages will become less likely.”
Khayali Rehman, a resident of Lower Kurram, noted that the military operations since 2007 have already led to significant arms recoveries. However, he emphasised the need for transparency in the current process. “This must not turn into a photo opportunity. All heavy weapons must be surrendered without exception,” he said.
Both sides now hope that full implementation of the agreement will restore normalcy and allow life in Kurram to return to its peaceful rhythm.
Mahmood Ali Jan Turi, a resident of Upper Kurram, also views the recent weapons collection by rival groups as a positive sign. However, he also warns that, given Kurram’s location, both factions can re-arm within 24 hours. “It seems likely that the Thall-Parachinar Road will reopen for traffic in the coming weeks,” he adds.
The writer is a multimediaproducer. He tweetsdaudpasaney