Normalcy is gradually returning to Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram Agency after the deadly twin blasts on June 23 killed at least 75 people and injured 261. Almost all the main bazaars of the town have been re-opened and business is going on amid tight security and snap-checking by the Pakistan army.

While visiting the scenic town under the shadow of gigantic chinar and pine trees, one can find calm and peace though an environment of mourning still prevails.

The army is taking over control, erecting check posts and checking vehicles entering the town. Armed patrolling of bazaars has encouraged residents to open their business, educational institutions, and return to routine activities. However, the general public is still cautious while visiting bazaars to buy necessary items.

Shopkeepers say business has been badly affected and is yet to be restored as people, especially from the nearby villages and hamlets, avoid visiting the bazaars as environment of fear still persists. There is no hustle and bustle in the bazaars like before.

A local elder, Shabeer Hussain, says most of the people are staying indoors. They come out only for doing necessary work and avoid roaming in the bazaar. "My wife hardly allows our son to go out without any pressing demand or for doing necessary shopping," he tells TNS.

As the situation had become tense after the locals’ protest and sit-in, the visits of Army Chief, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, to Parachinar where they consoled the victims’ families, helped people to carry on with life.

The compensation for the heirs of those killed and injured in the blasts has been enhanced to one million and 500,000 rupees respectively. Cheques were distributed among the victims by the governor during his visit. The residents demanded of the army chief to honour all his promises.

While the locals seem satisfied with the security arrangements at the moment, they want a permanent solution to the problem of militancy and terrorism.

However, there is a realisation among the local people that the terrorist activities are not related to sectarian conflict as has been the case in the past. This time, they see foreign involvement and funding in the terror activities.

As a Sunni elder from Lower Kurram, Haji Salim Khan says, "Sunni and Shia communities are riding the same boat and a minor hole in the boat can sink both at the same time." According to him, both the Shia and Sunni communities in the agency are on the same page and united against their common enemy.

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Haji Faqir Hussain, general secretary Anjuman-e-Hussainia supports Salim Khan’s views and says the enemies of Islam and Pakistan are hatching conspiracies to pit Sunni and Shia against each other.

The repeated bomb blasts this year in January, March, April and now in June have taken the lives of more than 250 people besides injuring hundreds more. "Protection of life and property of the citizens is the state’s responsibility but nobody raised a slogan against the state or institutions during the recent protest and dharna," he says.

A youth leader, Mohsin Rasheed, complains the prime minister did not visit Parachinar, nor announced compensation for the victims like it was announced for Ahmadpur Sharqia victims in Punjab. He laments that some of the injured died due to lack of facilities at the THQ hospital.

"The governor’s assurances of upgrading the hospital and providing all missing facilities besides the establishment of a trauma centre may redress the grievances to some extent," he adds.

However, an influential figure of the Kurram Agency, wishing anonymity, suspects that some locals might be getting foreign funding for carrying out sabotage activities. "How can a terrorist manage to enter the agency headquarters in tight security without the help and support of a local facilitator," he asks.

Nonetheless, people’s moral is high despite all reservations as Riaz Hussain, a rickshaw driver who was injured in the blast, says such incidents could not weaken his commitment to serve his nation and the country. Riaz says, he rushed to the spot just after the first blast and had hardly removed two-three injured persons when the second blast occurred and he was also injured.

Narrating the situation, Inam Ali, another injured, says he was buying juice for his kid from a nearby shop when the first blast occurred and he rushed to rescue the wounded people when he was hit by the second blast.