fter a lull in violence that lasted for about a decade, 2024 became one of the deadliest years in Kurram. Hundreds of people lost their lives in the nominally sectarian violence. Since October 12, the Thal-Parachinar Road has been closed to traffic. This has caused acute shortages of medicines, food and other essential commodities.

At the beginning of the year, sporadic violence was reported in various parts of the volatile Kurram district. On New Year’s Eve, unidentified gunmen had attacked two vehicles in Upper Kurram, injuring three Sunni passengers from the Ghozgari and Sarsrung areas.

On January 7, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a Parachinar-bound passenger vehicle near Sada Bridge, killing three people, including a woman. On January 9, a person from the Shia community in Karaman was injured in a firearm attack. Following this incident, the Thal-Parachinar Road was closed to traffic. On January 23, five people, including two children, were wounded in three landmine blasts in the Speena Shaga and Bagdi areas of Upper Kurram.

On February 15, a security official member was killed and two civilians were injured in a clash over disputed forest ownership in Gedo area of Upper Kurram. The Gedo Mangal and Pewar communities have been long embroiled in the dispute, which has already claimed dozens of lives.

Relative calm characterised February and March. However, violence flared up again on April 7. Unidentified men attacked a passenger vehicle on the Parachinar bypass road, killing two people and injuring four others. As if in retaliation, some people pelted vehicles plying on the Sada Bypass Road with stones, injuring two people.

On June 15, a number of peace activists protested against the violence. Sunni and Shia youths marched together from Sada in Lower Kurram to Parachinar in Upper Kurram. They carried white flags and called for peace in the volatile district.

On June 16, at least four people were killed and two others injured when an improvised explosive device destroyed a car traveling from Central Kurram to Sada. On June 21, a security forces vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Central Kurram, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers.

On July 25, a land dispute between Sunni and Shia tribes flared up yet again. At least 49 people were killed in the clashes and 226 were injured. The clashes, triggered apparently by a land dispute between Shia and Sunni families in the Boshehra area of Upper Kurram, later turned into a sectarian conflict and spread across the district. The Thal-Parachinar Road was closed to traffic.

To contain the unrest, the district administration suspended the internet service. On July 26, Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur directed the Kohat division commissioner to take immediate measures to end the clashes. The situation deteriorated for a week before a ceasefire was finally agreed through the efforts of the commissioner and jirga members from both sides.

On August 18, a clash erupted between rival groups from Boghaki and Badami in Upper Kurram, resulting in one death. Two people were injured. Timely intervention by the administration and a local jirga de-escalated the situation.

On September 20, clashes over a land dispute in Boshehra reignited, spreading to other parts of the district. These clashes continued for several days, claiming at least 44 lives. At least 130 people were injured. Due to the violence, the Thal-Parachinar Road, government offices, schools and markets were closed. This left the residents struggling for access to basic necessities.

The clashes persisted for nine days. After intervention by a jirga, a temporary peace was agreed. However, the Thal-Parachinar Road remained closed. Locals avoided traveling on the main road due to uncertainty and fear of renewed violence.

On October 12, the situation escalated again. AS many as 17 people, including women and children, were killed when a convoy was attacked in Upper Kurram. This incident fuelled anger among Sunni tribes. Following this the Thal-Parachinar Road and the Kharlachi border remained closed for several weeks.

In November, a large number of people from Parachinar marched to Sameer Abbas in Lower Kurram, demanding that the government re-open and secure the Thal-Parachinar Road. Following discussions with district administration officials, security was provided for passenger vehicles to travel in protected convoys thrice a week.

The law-and-order situation deteriorated substantially on November 21 when unidentified gunmen attacked passenger vehicles in two convoys near Mandori Uchat in Lower Kurram. The attack claimed at least 45 lives. The deceased included women and children.

On November 22, unidentified assailants attacked Bagan, a small town near the site of the convoy ambush, apparently to exact revenge. The attackers set fire to shops and houses in the surrounding area, killing at least 30 people. Many Bagan families evacuated to safer locations. Hundreds of them relocated to Thal, a subdivision of the Hangu district.

As the situation spiraled out of control, a delegation comprising the law minister, the chief minister’s advisor on information and public relations, the chief secretary, the inspector general of police and the Kohat division commissioner arrived in Kurram on the direction of the chief minister. The delegation spent two days in the district, meeting tribal elders from both sects. Both sides agreed to a seven-day ceasefire, exchange of hostages and the return of bodies.

Since November, there have been dozens of jirga sessions. None have resulted in a permanent solution to the decades-old violent conflict. On December 20, an apex committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur decided to dismantle all bunkers in Kurram and remove heavy weapons.

On November 25, following a ceasefire agreement, the warring communities exchanged bodies and hostages. Leaders from the Bagan region handed over four bodies and five female hostages were released to the rival community. Despite these developments, sporadic clashes continued across both Lower and Upper Kurram.

Reports suggested that at least 30 children died due to a shortage of medicine. However, the KP government has disputed the number. It says the Health Department is investigating the matter. An acute shortage of medicines, food, POL, LPG and firewood is persisting. The government is using a helicopter to supplying medicines and airlifting people from Parachinar to Thal and Peshawar.

On December 22, two men from Parachinar were killed and beheaded in the Ochat area of Lower Kurram. Some people have started a sit-in in Parachinar, demanding the re-opening of the Thal-Parachinar Road.

Sunnis and Shias have long lived side by side in Kurram. However, disputes over land, forests and properties have frequently led to armed clashes. Differences over religious observances and hate speech to have contributed to violence in the area.

The writer is a multimedia producer. He tweets @daudpasaney