Kurram violence: Agreement in sight as talks continue in Kohat

PARACHINAR: The grand peace jirga in Kohat continued negotiations on Friday with rival sides reportedly agreeing on most points to bring peace to the volatile Kurram district.

“While substantial agreement has been reached on most points, no final decision was announced,” said a source. Local elders and stakeholders are set to meet today (Saturday) to finalise the agreement.

The representatives from the district administration and the provincial government have been part of the talks. The jirga aims to help reopen key routes in Kurram, which has severely impacted its residents.

Residents of Kurram are facing dire consequences due to the prolonged blockade caused by tribal clashes and threats along the road from Teri Mangal to Thall.

Member National Assembly Hamid Hussain voiced his frustration and said, “If the government intends to kill us through hunger and thirst, it would be better to bomb us outright.”

He demanded the government to prioritize reopening the roads instead of turning the jirga process into an indefinite delay.

Meanwhile, a 20-day-old infant, Muhammad Owais, succumbed to pneumonia due to the lack of medical access. Hospital officials said that over the past two months, more than 30 patients, including 15 children, had died because they could not reach medical facilities in Peshawar.

Kurram district is grappling with severe shortages of food and medicine. Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud confirmed that efforts were underway to address the scarcity of essential supplies, ensure the provision of medicines to hospitals, and reopen transportation routes.

The residents urged the government to secure routes from Teri Mangal to Thall and allow convoys of passenger vehicles to pass safely.