After extensive deliberations and weeks of discussions, a major breakthrough for peace in Kurram was achieved today with the successful conclusion of a Grand Jirga in Kohat, where both negotiating parties signed a peace agreement. This marks a pivotal step toward restoring stability in the region.
KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif announced the development, revealing that one of the parties had signed the agreement a few days earlier, while the other party signed it today.
He confirmed that both sides have agreed to surrender their weapons and dismantle their bunkers.
Barrister Saif expressed optimism, stating that the agreement would herald a “new era of peace and development” in the district, with calm and security expected to return to the previously unstable region.
According to Express News, the three-week-long Jirga, led by Kohat Division Commissioner Moatasim Billah Shah, concluded earlier today. The agreement reflects a collaborative effort between the parties, the government, and local administration to establish lasting peace in Kurram.
Under the accord, both sides have committed to removing private bunkers and surrendering weapons. The government, in turn, has pledged to reopen access to Kurram once peace is ensured. Additionally, a special security force of 399 personnel will be created to secure routes to Kurram.
The formal announcement of the Kurram Peace Agreement will take place at the Governor House in Peshawar, with both parties bound to the decisions made during Apex Committee meetings.
Sources indicated that while one party signed the agreement earlier, the other sought additional time for consultations before signing today.
During the Jirga, it was agreed that decisions from the Apex Committee meetings in Peshawar would be implemented. If either side has concerns, they can approach the Kohat or Divisional Commissioner for resolution.
The parties have until February 1 to fulfill the agreement’s terms, which include dismantling bunkers and handing over weapons to the provincial government.
The one-month deadline ensures both sides have adequate time to comply. These measures will be overseen by the administration to prevent either side from claiming insufficient time.
The Jirga also addressed the consequences of non-compliance, particularly regarding the surrender of weapons.
Just a day earlier, the issue was debated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, where members opposed military action. During the Jirga, both parties agreed to disarm, avoiding the need for such operations.
For now, roads leading to Kurram will remain closed until peace is fully restored. If the agreement’s terms are not met, road closures will persist. In the interim, the provincial government has arranged helicopter services to deliver essential medical and food supplies. Once peace is secured, all routes to Kurram will reopen.
Previously, a prolonged deadlock had stalled the Jirga, with protests against road closures continuing for nine days. The delay was attributed to a lack of attendance from Jirga members.
While both parties had agreed on many points, one side expressed reservations about a clause requiring the deposit of heavy weapons with tribal elders.
The Jirga debated this issue, with one side suggesting both parties should submit weapons to the government.
Authorities, however, insisted that roads would not reopen until heavy weapons were surrendered, leading to protests in various parts of the country, including Karachi, where road closures disrupted daily life.
Key routes, such as the Parachinar-Peshawar Main Road, have been closed for over two months, cutting off supplies to Upper Kurram. The conflict, rooted in a century-long land dispute, has grown more complex over time, further fueling tensions.
