Kurram APC

Few areas in Pakistan have experienced outbreaks of tragic violence as consistently as the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one of the newly merged districts of the province. The latest round of bloody clashes in Kurram has claimed an estimated 133 lives while leaving approximately 177 injured. The most shocking incident to have come out of this conflict has been the November 21 ambush on civilian passenger convoys going from Parachinar, the Kurram district’s main town, to Peshawar, leading to almost 50 deaths. At the heart of the conflict in Kurram are land, water, and forest disputes that have exacerbated underlying sectarian divides. While these issues are not new, the dynamics have worsened significantly since the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in 2021, which brought a flood of advanced weaponry into the region. The TTP’s presence since 2007-08 has further fanned sectarian flames, complicating efforts to resolve disputes. Local jirgas have repeatedly failed to secure lasting peace, while official mechanisms have been equally ineffective.

This is why Thursday’s All-Parties Conference (APC), summoned by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in Peshawar to mull over the security, law and order situation in the province with a particular focus on Kurram, is a welcome step. The APC was attended by more than a dozen political parties, including the Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-e-Islami, Qaumi Watan Party, National Democratic Movement, among others. Unfortunately, like the APC on Gaza, the PTI announced it would boycott this important moot. The excuse given this time was that the PPP “has no mandate in KP". It is sad to see that a party that is in power in a volatile province like KP is boycotting an APC on the violence in Kurram. Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur should have been the one hosting this APC, as his province is reeling under terrorist attacks. The sectarian violence in Kurram escalated and while there is a ceasefire in place now, the situation is still volatile. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s failure to either convene or attend the conference, or at least send representatives, underscores an alarming disconnect between the PTI leadership and the province’s urgent realities. In a province that has borne the brunt of terrorism and sectarian violence, such indifference is unforgivable. Chief Minister Gandapur, who seems more preoccupied with defending party leader Imran Khan and orchestrating political rallies, must shoulder responsibility for Kurram’s deteriorating security.

Beyond political posturing, the escalating violence in Kurram demands a comprehensive and integrated strategy. This strategy must address the root causes of land disputes while working to calm sectarian tensions. Law enforcement and security agencies need to root out outlawed groups exploiting local grievances. Strengthening border security to curb the inflow of advanced weapons is equally critical. An APC on Kurram is not just about the PPP or the other dozen parties in the province, it is about everyone who is a citizen of that province. Terrorism and violence should not be held hostage to petty politics. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and indeed the entire nation, cannot afford to allow a region like Kurram to descend further into chaos. Political leadership must transcend party lines to address the grievances of citizens who have endured far too much violence and neglect.