New dawn for FATA as K-P approves merger

[Hermoine Green]

PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed the historic FATA merger bill with 92-7 votes amid protests, rendering the tribal areas part of the province.

Adoption of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment Act of 2018 abolishes the separate status of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The bill was tabled in the provincial assembly by K-P law minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi after the speaker administered the oath to PTI member on minority seat Baldev Kumar.

Lawmakers of all political parties other than the JUI-F welcomed the act.

Highlighting PTI’s efforts for making the merger possible, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that he had been pressing the federal government to do it before the expiry of its tenure.

Merger with K-P: Internet access to FATA people urged

He said that the federal government was not interested in finalizing the merger and they were discussing other issues.

“Just 10 days ago, I had told the prime minister that if FATA reforms that if the merger was not expedited problems will linger on. The Army Chief explicitly asked me not to leave the meeting unless a decision was reached on FATA merger bill,” Khattak said.

Elements unaffected by the draconian FCR law were protesting against the merger, he said.

“Even Afghanistan is opposing this merger. Achakzai, despite being in Balochistan, is also against the merger. I ask the Maulana Sahib (Maulana Fazlur Rehman) why are you against the move which frees the people of FATA from the clutches of FCR? Why don’t you want them (the tribesmen) to enjoy the same laws applicable in other settled areas?” he said.

He said that if the merger did not benefit the people of FATA, he would himself have opposed it.

Khattak said that if he had not intervened, the federal government would have linked the abolition Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) with the FATA merger, thereby ending decades-old tax exemptions. He said that he took up the matter with the prime minister who assured that the exemptions would continue for another five years.

Twenty-fifth Constitutional Amendment Bill

“No one can impose taxes on Malakand Division,” he asserted.

The House passed a resolution, asking the federal government to extend the tax exemption period for PATA for at least 10 years.

It also called for a development package of at least Rs100 billion for the region.

Furthermore, the resolution called for giving legal cover to the Nizam-e-Adal Regulation, currently applied in the PATA.

The resolution was moved by Dr Haider Ali of PTI and it was adopted by the house with a majority vote.

Lawmakers from the Malakand Division/ PATA talked at length on tax exemptions, besides demanding of the federal government to approve the development package.

Opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rahman, however, criticised the merger and said that the move was against the will of the people of FATA.

Assembly session proceedings

“What is the hurry for passing the bill just days before the end of your tenure? Why take a decision which will definitely affect the next assembly?” Maulana Rahman said.

He said that his party (JUI-F) wanted the people FATA to decide their own fate.

“We stand with the people of FATA. We want to inform the people of the consequences of the bill’s adoption. The people of FATA must be allowed a say in the decision-making process,” Maulana Lutfur Rahman said.

ANP’s Sardar Hussain Babak said that lines drawn during the British Raj, dividing the Pashtuns, had now been eliminated.

“The next step will be to include the Pashtuns living in Balochistan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, creating a greater Pashtun province,” Babak said.

Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha of PPP congratulated all parties other than JUI-F, which he said had tried its best to impede the FATA merger.

JUI-F, he said, had delayed the merger by more than two years.

“If they had shown the same zeal in enforcing the Shariah, the country would now be run under Islamic laws,” he said.

Bacha and Mufti Janan of JUI-F engaged in a war of words over this issue.



Merger with K-P: Internet access to FATA people urged

Inayatullah Khan of JI conditionally welcomed the law, insisting that demands of the people of Malakand Division should be heeded.

Sikandar Khan Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) said that all political parties should now make efforts to improve the lives of the people of FATA.

“It is our weakness that the people of FATA remain deprived of development all these years,” Sherpao said.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/172016...-k-p-assembly-ahead-vote-31st-amendment-bill/

 

[Asim_khan]

Great news, and a huge win for IK/PTI.

However can one of our more learned friends please explain what's the politics behind Aghanistan/Achakzai/JUIF and Maulana Diesel not wanting FATA/KP to be merged into one?

 

[Mian]

Great news, and a huge win for IK/PTI.

However can one of our more learned friends please explain what's the politics behind Aghanistan/Achakzai/JUIF and Maulana Diesel not wanting FATA/KP to be merged into one?

Achakzai side business is smuggling and the merger doesn't help his cause and he is also on payroll of Afghanistan to keep talking about pakhtunistan and Durand line

 

[Asim_khan]

Achakzai side business is smuggling and the merger doesn't help his cause and he is also on payroll of Afghanistan to keep talking about pakhtunistan and Durand line

There was some talk of Pakhtunistan beocming the name of KP/FATA after merger, wonder how that would go down.

Hopefully with a depoliticised Police force in KP, our brave boys in blue put an end to cross border smuggling and Achakzai is brought before the courts.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Tribal land feud claims 35 Lives as armed clashes rage in Kurram​

A land feud between tribes in the northwestern part of the country has spilled over into days of fighting with machine guns and mortars, killing 35 people so far, officials said Sunday.

Two tribal groups have been fighting since Wednesday, when a gunman opened fire at a council negotiating a decades-long dispute over farmland, local police official Murtaza Hussain said.

While no one was wounded in that attack, Hussain said it reignited longstanding tensions between the clans who live side-by-side in Boshehra and Malikhel areas of the district of Kurram on the border with Afghanistan.

Hussain confirmed that the conflict had "claimed 35 lives" so far.

"The government and local leaders are attempting to halt the fighting through jirgas (tribal councils), but have not yet succeeded," he said.

Inter-family feuds are common in the country.

However, they can be particularly protracted and violent in the mountainous northwestern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where communities abide by traditional tribal honour codes.

A senior government official from Kurram district, who asked to remain anonymous, also gave a death toll of 35 but said 151 more people had been wounded.

"All attempts to resolve the conflict have failed," he said.

A police source, who asked not to be identified, said both sides were using automatic weapons and mortars in fighting focussed around the town of Parachinar, which had been blockaded by law enforcement.

"The area is still witnessing clashes involving the use of both small and large weapons," the senior Kurram district official said.

Traffic on the main roads also remained suspended due to the continuing firing.

Kurram is part of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, a semi-autonomous area that was merged with KP in 2018.

The move brought the region into the legal and administrative mainstream, although police and security forces frequently struggle to enforce the rule of law there.

Tribal land feud claims 35 Lives as armed clashes rage in Kurram

PESHAWAR: A land feud between tribes in the northwestern part of the country has spilled over into days of fighting with machine guns and mortars, killing 35 people so far, officials said Sunday.Two...

www.thenews.com.pk

 

[BouncerGuy]

Kurram clashes: How a Pakistani land dispute led to a deadly tribal battle

After weeklong clashes between rival tribes in Pakistan’s district of Kurram, killing at least 46 people and injuring nearly 200, fighting has now halted, following a meeting between authorities and tribal elders.

A grand jirga, or a gathering of tribal elders, along with civilian and security officials, met in Parachinar, the main city in Kurram district. They held an hours-long meeting on Wednesday, after which a ceasefire was agreed upon by all stakeholders – until October 5.

Javedullah Mehsud, the deputy commissioner of Kurram, said there had been no casualties since then and that the government was confident of reaching a resolution to end the conflict.

“This is unfortunately an ongoing land dispute in the area that has led to fighting in the past as well, but we are confident that we can put an end to it this time,” Mehsud told Al Jazeera.

So where is Kurram, what happened there, how did things escalate and what’s next?

Where is Kurram?

Kurram, a mountainous area that shares a long border with Afghanistan in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is home to about 700,000 people, of which more than 42 percent belong to the Shia community.

It is closer to Afghanistan’s capital Kabul than any major city in Pakistan but also borders Afghanistan’s Khost, Paktia, Logar and Nangarhar provinces, which are considered havens for anti-Shia armed groups such as ISIL (ISIS) and the Pakistan Taliban (TTP).

The area has a history of sectarian conflict between the Shia and the Sunni majority groups and has also faced militancy during the past decade, with frequent attacks by TTP and other armed groups targeting the Shia community.

According to local authorities and tribal leaders, the current conflict has its roots in a continuing land dispute between Shia-majority and Sunni-majority tribes. Another similar incident flared up last year, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urged the government to help broker peace in the area where, it added, “violence has taken a heavy toll on ordinary citizens”.

“HRCP calls on the KP government to ensure that the ceasefire being brokered, holds. All disputes, whether over land or born of sectarian conflict, must be resolved peacefully through negotiations convened by the KP government with all stakeholders represented,” it said in a statement on July 29.

What caused the latest clashes?

Mehmood Ali Jan, a member of the local peace committee and part of the jirga that held meetings this week, says that the conflict arose between Maleekhel, a Shia-majority tribe, and Madgi Kalay, a Sunni-majority tribe, over a tract of land in Boshehra village, situated 15km (9 miles) south of Parachinar city.

“It was a piece of agricultural land originally owned by the Shia tribe, which they had leased to the Sunni tribe for farming purposes. The lease was supposed to end this July, but when the time came, they refused to return the land, leading to fighting,” Jan told Al Jazeera.

Jan says that the local peace committee, which included members from both Shia and Sunni tribes, immediately tried to pacify the situation and asked the government to intervene. But the government, he says, was late to respond.

“The state was completely absent initially, leading to so much fighting. They did not interfere or send in forces or police despite the heavy presence of military and paramilitary personnel in the area,” Jan claimed.

Nisar Ahmad Khan, the district police officer, however, refutes the allegations of government inaction, saying that as soon as the fighting began, the state took swift action. He conceded, however, that a lack of manpower and the difficult terrain impeded the pace of the government’s response.

“We have limited capacity, and Kurram is a large, difficult area to access due to its mountainous terrain. Often, we had to hike for hours to reach places where fighting was taking place. Plus, due to the porous border with Afghanistan, many people have access to sophisticated weapons, making it even more difficult,” the police officer told Al Jazeera.

However, he categorically denied any involvement of TTP or any other armed group targeting the Shia community for their religious identity.

“The Boshehra village, where most of the fighting took place, has a strategic advantage for defenders, and anyone who tried to gain access was easily targeted. In this case, it was the Maleekhel tribe, which suffered more losses,” he said.

Why do such clashes keep happening?

Jan, the tribal elder, said even though a land dispute is at the heart of the current tensions, the region’s long history of sectarian strife allows “some elements” from both sides to use religion as a tool to mobilise.

“There have been major land dispute conflicts in the Kurram area between various tribes that have been ongoing since before the partition [of the Indian subcontinent in 1947]. Whenever anything triggers, it is conveniently given a sectarian angle, which is not the case,” he added.

There have been several incidents of significant sectarian violence in the last seven decades, but the most serious clash started in 2007, in which fighting between Shia and Sunni tribes lasted for almost four years. Several villages were set ablaze and thousands of people had to leave the region and seek shelter in other parts of the country.

Kurram, which was at the time part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), was cut off from the rest of the country. In 2011, the Pakistani military, with the help of local tribal elders, finally managed to put an end to the fighting. Government data shows nearly 2,000 people were killed in the clashes, while more than 5,000 people were reported injured.

Khan, the police chief said that in many areas of the district, Shia and Sunni communities live together peacefully.

He cited the Ashura procession last month, marked to mourn the martyrdom of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

“We recently had the Ashura processions, which were taken out in different parts of Kurram. In many areas, Sunni tribes provided security for Shias who were mourning,” Khan said.

Mehsud, the deputy commissioner, said the government hoped to use the ceasefire to resolve the land dispute between the Maleekhel and Madgi Kalay tribes.

“We have our land dispute resolution mechanisms, and this ceasefire will allow us to bring all stakeholders together to try to end this permanently,” he said.

What is the current situation?

The fighting led to the closure of most roads leading to Kurram, and news reports emerged that even ambulances were targeted by unknown men.

Schools in Parachinar remained closed, while markets saw little activity. Jan, who is also a trader, said the closure of roads led to shortages of food and other necessary items, making it difficult for anyone needing to leave town in case of an emergency.

“After the ceasefire, we are hoping that life returns to normal. Right now, people are travelling in convoys only, with police and paramilitary forces guarding the roads leading out of Kurram,” he said.

Jan also added that the fighting resulted in the closure of the mobile data network, but fixed lines were working.

Mehsud, the government official, said that after the pause in fighting, there is an uneasy calm in the area but he expressed hope that normal activity in the region should resume soon.

“Naturally, there is an air of fear right now, and people are reluctant to step out of their homes. However, in the last two days, we have seen some semblance of normalcy, and things should improve,” he said.

ALJAZEERA

 

[BouncerGuy]

10 more killed in Kurram clashes

Fresh clashes between rival groups in Kurram district left at least 10 more people dead on Wednesday, pushing the death toll from five days of fighting to 30 with 70 others injured.

The police and hospital sources said that the clashes started after Boshehra tribes of upper Kurram started setting up bunkers on the lands of Ahmadzai tribes. They added that the fight spread to other areas.

They said that 10 people were killed and 30 others were injured in fresh clashes in Balishkhel, Sadda, Khar Kallay, Peewar, Maqbal and other areas. They said that the main Parachinar highway and other roads in the area remained closed to traffic due to the clashes.

They said that all educational institutions in the area had also been closed for an indefinite period.

Local residents said that the rival groups used heavy weapons to target each other’s positions.

Kurram deputy commissioner Javedullah Mahsud said that his administration was making efforts through a tribal jirga to ensure the warring tribes ceased fire. He said that the jirga members had been dispatched to different areas for the purpose.

Meanwhile, the Kurram bar association has moved a local court over the frequent tribal clashes and lawlessness, which has made the life of common people miserable.

DAWN NEWS

 

[FearlessRoar]

5 more killed, 15 injured in KP’s Kurram clashes as latest wave of violence enters 8th day

Five more people were killed and 15 injured on Friday as fresh clashes — which first emerged last week — between rival tribes in different areas of Kurram district continued into the eighth day, bringing the total number of casualties to 46 dead and 96 injured, a hospital official said.

Police and hospital sources last week told Dawn that the clashes started after Boshehra tribes of upper Kurram started setting up bunkers on the lands of Ahmadzai tribes, with the dispute quickly engulfing other areas as well.

On Wednesday, sources said that at least 10 people were killed were injured in in Balishkhel, Sadda, Khar Kallay, Peewar, Maqbal and other areas, adding that the main Parachinar Highway and other roads in the area were closed due to traffic.

Kurram District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Medical Superintendent Dr Qaiser Abbas Banghash confirmed the latest death toll to Dawn.com today.

Former federal minister Sajid Toori acknowledged that routine activities was badly affected due to armed clashes, but hoped the situation would normalise soon, calling on people to solve their problems amicably.

Separately, Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) parliamentary leader Engineer Hameed Hussain staeged a protest outside the Parachinar Press Club, citing the failure of the institutions responsible for law and order to establish peace.

Serious efforts being made to maintain law and order: KP CM
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said a day earlier that serious efforts were being made to maintain law and order in the province, especially in the southern districts.

“After the improvement of the law and order situation in southern districts, more checkposts will be handed over to the police. However, before that happens, there is a need for enhancing the capabilities of police,” Gandapur said in a statement issued from the CM’s secretariat on Thursday.

The chief minister said that the current conflict in Kurram tribal district was related to some groups and the provincial government was taking steps to resolve the issue peacefully.

He said the provincial government was working to resolve the problem permanently.

Gandapur said negotiations were underway to address the conflict in Khyber tribal district as well and it was likely to be resolved by Friday.

He said that people in the Mir Ali area would be compensated and the cattle market would be handed over to the residents after reconstruction, adding that the relief department had issued directions in that respect

5 more killed, 15 injured in KP’s Kurram clashes as latest wave of violence enters 8th day

Hospital official says death toll at 46, 96 injured; CM says serious efforts being made to maintain law and order.

www.dawn.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

11 killed, 8 injured in Kurram firing incidents

At least 11 people were killed and eight were injured in shooting incidents in Kunj Alizai area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district, hospital and local officials said on Saturday.

Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javidullah Mehsud confirmed the death toll to Dawn.com.

“There was shooting in the Kunj Alizai mountains near the Pak-Afghan border and on the roads there,” DC Mehsud said.

Mir Hassan, medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital, told Dawn.com that a total of nine injured people were brought to the hospital, out of which one succumbed to their injuries while treatment of the rest was under way.

He added that the condition of three of the wounded was “critical”.

DC Mehsud asserted that steps were being taken to make the entry and exit routes to Kurram safe and to restore law and order in the region.

Last month, at least 46 people were killed and 91 were injured in days-long violence that had erupted over a land dispute. A previous bout of clashes in July had also resulted in 49 deaths.

In September, the district administration had engaged a local jirga to facilitate negotiations between two rival tribes. The KP government has also formed a land commission to resolve land disputes.

DAWN NEWS

 

[BouncerGuy]

Two FC men martyred in Kurram

Two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were martyred when unidentified shooters opened fire on Tall Scouts in the Char Khel area of Lower Kurram district on Monday, police sources said.

The attack was carried out at a time when half a million residents have been facing acute shortage of daily commodities due to uncertain situation in the district, with several roads closed and public transport off the road.

The police sources said that the FC personnel were deployed for the protection of road users when some unidentified armed men attacked them. The two FC personnel suffered injuries in the attack and were rushed to Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Tall.

Later, police sources said both personnel could not survive.

Meanwhile, locals complained that roads were closed and patients could not be transported to hospitals, adding that there was acute shortage of medicines in the area.

Medical superintendent of district headquarters hospital of Parachinar, Dr Syed Meer Hassain Jan, said that patients, who could not be treated at the DHQ were required to be referred to other hospitals, but they could not be transported due to closure of roads.

The residents said instead of closures, roads should be secured. They complained that children could not go to schools due to closed roads. They said that in areas where schools were open, the students could not be transported due to shortage of fuel in the area.

Farmers lamented that since roads were closed, seeds could not be transported to the district timely besides there was also acute shortage of fertilisers in the area.

Also, traders and goods transporters demanded immediate opening of roads. They said that Kharlachi border crossing with Afghanistan was also closed, adding that the routes should be secured for durable peace in the area.

DAWN NEWS

 

[FearlessRoar]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1854538619882471541

 

[FearlessRoar]

At least 38 dead in gun attack on passenger vans in KP’s Kurram District: police

At least 38 people were killed in a gun attack carried out on passenger vans in the Ochat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower Kurram region on Thursday, according to the police.

Ahmady Shama Station House Officer Kaleem Shah told Dawn.com that 38 people were killed, including three women, and 11 were injured.

The same toll was given by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi while speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court.

“This past week has been difficult and upsetting, now 38 people have been martyred in Kurram,” he said. “We see a new incident every day now and are in constant contact with the KP authorities, KP inspector general of police and the chief minister. They need help.

“They are one of our provinces, a part of our country and we will not leave them behind,” the interior minister said. “We are going to help however we can.”

Providing details of the incident, KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr Saif said police personnel were attacked first, and then the passenger convoy was targeted from both sides. “Around 200 vehicles were in the convoy,” he said.

He said the district administration, senior police officials and officers were present at the scene. Barrister Saif added that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud told AFP that “two separate convoys of members of the Shia community … were targeted by the terrorists in the Kurram district.

“Both convoys consisted of around 40 vehicles travelling under police escort.”

DC Mehsud further said that “women and children sought refuge in local houses, and we are currently searching for [the attackers] in the area.”

Talking to Dawn.com, he said sectarian attacks had occurred in the past but civilians were also targeted in the current attack thus terrorism could not be ruled out. He said there were land disputes between tribes in Kurram.

Earlier, Tehsil Head Quarters (THQ) Hospital Alizai Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Ishaq said 33 people were killed and 30 injured, adding that the latter were being referred to various hospitals in the district and some to Peshawar.

KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry told Reuters that “the death toll is likely to rise”.

President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the incident and expressed his condolences to the bereaved of the deceased.

“Attacking innocent passengers is a cowardly and inhumane act,” he was quoted as saying in a post on X by PPP’s media cell.

He added that those responsible for the incident should be punished. He urged that timely medical aid be provided to the injured.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif similarly ordered that the best medical facilities be provided to the people injured in the attack in a statement condemning the attack.

He issued a directive to identify the attackers and punish them.

“The enemies of the peace of the country attacked the convoy of innocent citizens which is tantamount to brutality. All attempts of anti-national elements to destroy the peace of the beloved country will be thwarted.

“The evil elements involved in the incident will be identified and punished accordingly. Saboteurs cannot demoralise the brave Pakistani nation by such cowardly actions,” he said.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took strict notice of the incident and also condemned it.

He directed a delegation comprising the chief secretary, provincial law minister and the area’s MNA and MPA to visit Kurram immediately and personally assess the conditions there and submit a report.

The chief minister also called for the area’s jirga to be reactivated to improve the situation in Kurram.

“Work should be done to establish a provincial highways police to secure all highways in the province,” CM Gandapur said in directions to authorities.

“The provincial government, police and all relevant institutions are making serious efforts to improve the law and order situation in the area,” he said.

Announcing financial assistance for the families of those killed in the attack, CM Gandapur said targeting innocent citizens was “extremely regrettable and condemnable”.

“The elements involved in the incident cannot escape the clutches of the law,” he vowed.

The incident comes amid a sharp uptick in the number of terrorist attacks in Balochistan and KP.

Attacks escalated after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan outfit broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022 and vowed to target security forces.

Last month, two terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in KP’s North Waziristan district.

Twelve security personnel were martyred after a checkpost was targeted in the Mali Khel area of KP’s Bannu, the military’s media affairs wing said a day ago.

At least 38 dead in gun attack on passenger vans in KP’s Kurram District: police

SHO says 11 people injured; Kurram DC says two separate convoys were of members of the Shia community; President Zardari, KP CM condemn attack.

www.dawn.com

 

[mazkhan]

Massive level of killings going on.

But bewal will still say it's establishments fault, fault of shahbaz sharif and there is no need for operation.

It's high time pti is declared a terrorist organisation removed from kpk governance the kpk leader gandapur thrown in jail and governor raj announced in kpk and a full ww2 style blitzkreig invasion carried out against the taliban in former fata tribal areas and adjoining kpk districts that border hard on fata the main epicentre is that waziiristan which needs pummelling and the whole area regarded as traitors , if these mullah parties diesel , j islami , and ethnofacsists like ptm get in the way lump them with the khwarij ttp and roll the tanks over them.

I want china and Chinese troops involved this time because unlike the pak military they will finish this nonsense once and for all china doesn't do jirgas , bring ulema , peace treaties with mithai and garlands , gestures of releasing convicted terrorists . As we saw they pretty quickly dealt with an insurgency In xianjiang and got rid of the beginnings of isis that was forming there.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Fighting between armed sectarian groups in restive northwestern Pakistan kills at least 33 people

Fighting between armed Sunni and Shiite groups in northwestern Pakistan killed at least 33 people and injured 25 others, a senior police officer from the region said Saturday.

The overnight violence was the latest to rock Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and comes days after a deadly gun ambush killed 42 people.

Shiite Muslims make up about 15% of the 240 million people in Sunni-majority Pakistan, which has a history of sectarian animosity between the communities.

Although the two groups generally live together peacefully, tensions remain, especially in Kurram.

The senior police officer said armed men in Bagan and Bacha Kot torched shops, houses and government property.

Intense gunfire was ongoing between the Alizai and Bagan tribes in the Lower Kurram area.

“Educational institutions in Kurram are closed due to the severe tension. Both sides are targeting each other with heavy and automatic weapons,” said the officer, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Videos shared with The Associated Press showed a market engulfed by fire and orange flames piercing the night sky. Gunfire can also be heard.

The location of Thursday’s attack was also targeted by armed men, who marched on the area.

Survivors of the gun ambush said assailants emerged from a vehicle and sprayed buses and cars with bullets. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack and police have not identified a motive.

Dozens of people from the district’s Sunni and Shiite communities have been killed since July, when a land dispute erupted in Kurram that later turned into general sectarian violence.

AP NEWS

 

[FearlessRoar]

KP govt helicopter 'attacked' in Parachinar​

A helicopter carrying a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government delegation was fired upon while en route from Kohat to Parachinar on Saturday.

Despite the attack, all members of the delegation and the helicopter remained unharmed, successfully landing in Parachinar.

The delegation, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Aftab Alam Advocate, was on a mission to address the tense situation in Kurram district and reactivate the peace jirga aimed at restoring law and order. Other members on board included Chief Secretary Aslam Chaudhry, the Kohat DIG, the Kohat Division commissioner, and other senior officials.

The delegation had left for Parachinar on the instructions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to review the region’s law and order situation and seek community-based resolutions. Sources revealed that as the helicopter entered the Parachinar limits, unidentified assailants opened fire. However, the crew ensured a safe landing for the delegation, which remained safe.

Later, Chief Secretary Chaudhry said efforts were being made to resolve the issues in Kurram through a jirga, however, he added that firing was still ongoing in different areas.

"No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands anymore," he stressed, regretting the situation that had developed so far.

He further stated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was trying to resolve the issues as soon as possible and impose a ceasefire in all the areas. "Meetings are underway with tribal elders, and peace will be restored soon," the CS vowed, adding that Pakistan Army troops are present in different areas.

Violence has escalated in Lower Kurram as heavy and automatic weapon fire continues between rival tribal groups. According to police sources, at least 15 people have been killed and 25 injured in the ongoing clashes since Friday night.

The violence erupted following an attack on passenger vehicles, which led to a series of retaliatory confrontations between the two sides, they added. In response to the deteriorating security situation, educational institutions across Kurram district have been closed for the day. Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors as tensions remain high.

Govt helicopter 'attacked' in Parachinar

A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government delegation led by Law Minister Aftab Alam was fired upon in Parachinar. Despite the attack, the helicopter landed safely, and all delegates remained unharmed. The visit aimed to address tensions and restore order.

www.samaa.tv

 

[hassan918]

Fighting between armed sectarian groups in restive northwestern Pakistan kills at least 33 people

Fighting between armed Sunni and Shiite groups in northwestern Pakistan killed at least 33 people and injured 25 others, a senior police officer from the region said Saturday.

The overnight violence was the latest to rock Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and comes days after a deadly gun ambush killed 42 people.

Shiite Muslims make up about 15% of the 240 million people in Sunni-majority Pakistan, which has a history of sectarian animosity between the communities.

Although the two groups generally live together peacefully, tensions remain, especially in Kurram.

The senior police officer said armed men in Bagan and Bacha Kot torched shops, houses and government property.

Intense gunfire was ongoing between the Alizai and Bagan tribes in the Lower Kurram area.

“Educational institutions in Kurram are closed due to the severe tension. Both sides are targeting each other with heavy and automatic weapons,” said the officer, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Videos shared with The Associated Press showed a market engulfed by fire and orange flames piercing the night sky. Gunfire can also be heard.

The location of Thursday’s attack was also targeted by armed men, who marched on the area.

Survivors of the gun ambush said assailants emerged from a vehicle and sprayed buses and cars with bullets. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack and police have not identified a motive.

Dozens of people from the district’s Sunni and Shiite communities have been killed since July, when a land dispute erupted in Kurram that later turned into general sectarian violence.

AP NEWS

CM Gandapur calls on warring parties for ceasefire in Kurram​

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has appealed for a ceasefire in Kurram’s Parachinar region, where escalating clashes between local factions have raised concerns.

In a statement issued after an urgent video-link meeting, Gandapur underscored the importance of dialogue as the "best way to resolve disputes," proposing that a peaceful solution be sought through a traditional tribal jirga.

The meeting, held to review the ongoing tensions in Kurram District, included a delegation from the provincial government that had recently visited Parachinar.

The delegation provided Gandapur with a preliminary report, which included insights gathered during discussions with Shia community leaders in Parachinar.

They also shared proposals and demands raised by the community regarding the dispute’s resolution. Gandapur was briefed that the delegation would soon meet with Sunni elders to gather further input.

Expressing regret over recent violent incidents, Gandapur called the loss of life “deeply saddening and condemnable” and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

“Our aim is to prevent any future incidents of this nature,” he remarked, stressing that the provincial government remains committed to a sustainable and peaceful solution.

He also emphasised that the provincial government will chart a path forward based on consultations with local tribal elders, pledging to address all legitimate demands raised by the factions involved.

Gandapur directed the government delegation to engage with community leaders and present a final set of recommendations. “A ceasefire is essential for any progress toward resolving the conflict. I appeal to both parties to agree to a ceasefire, enabling us to move toward a solution,” he urged.

The chief minister also encouraged full cooperation between the local elders, government officials, and security personnel in maintaining peace, saying, “Establishing peace in the area is the provincial government’s top priority.

We are prepared to consider all available options to achieve this.”

Reiterating the importance of dialogue, Gandapur concluded, “Negotiation is the best path to resolving disputes. We are committed to finding a peaceful solution through the traditional jirga, in line with Pashtun customs.”

Source: The Express Tribune

 

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Ceasefire 'reached' between warring Kurram tribes after dozens killed​

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has confirmed that the a seven-day ceasefire was agreed between the two warring tribes in the Kurram district after days of clashes that killed at least 30 people and injured dozens.

"The two parties have agreed to return each other's hostages and bodies," Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said in a statement on Sunday after he led the delegation, to meet the tribal leaders in a bid to stop the clashes.

He noted that the government delegation flew to Parachinar — Kurram's main city — on Saturday to meet leaders of both sides.

The delegation met both warring parties today to try to broker a ceasefire deal and then move to resolve the matter.

Armed groups have attacked settlements that are populated by members of rival groups.

"Approximately 300 families have relocated to Hangu and Peshawar since this morning in search of safety," a senior official told AFP, adding that more families were preparing to leave the violence-hit district.

The clashes started after gunmen attacked convoys of civilian vehicles on Thursday, killing at least 44. That sparked retaliatory attacks and there have been pitched battles between armed groups from both sides.

At least 75 people have been killed over the past three days in the ongoing gun battles between different tribes, according to police.

It is pertinent to mention here that tribal and family feuds are common in the area.

Last month, at least 16 people, including three women and two children, were killed in a clash in Kurram.

Previous clashes in July and September killed dozens of people and ended only after a jirga, or tribal council, called a ceasefire. HRCP said 79 people died between July and October in clashes.

Several hundred people demonstrated against the violence on Friday in Lahore and Karachi.

In Parachinar, the main town of Kurram district, thousands participated in a sit-in, while hundreds attended the funerals of the victims of Thursday’s attack.

The latest violence drew condemnation from officials and human rights groups.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urged authorities this month to pay "urgent attention" to the "alarming frequency of clashes" in the region, warning that the situation has escalated to "the proportions of a humanitarian crisis."

Ceasefire 'reached' between warring Kurram tribes after dozens killed

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has confirmed that the a seven-day ceasefire was agreed between the two warring tribes in the Kurram district after days of...

www.thenews.com.pk

 

[JaDed]

How is this not its own thread 88 ppl killed?

 

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Kurram clashes claim 14 more lives, as tally reaches 114

As per details, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner stated that the ongoing clashes started last night where both sides are using heavy weapons against each other.

The recent clashes came after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s Information and Public Relations Adviser Barrister Dr Saif claimed that the warring tribes have agreed on a 7-day ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Kurram District, after days of violence.

Speaking to ARY News he said that the official Jirga returned to Peshawar following the conclusion of a two-day visit to Kurram.

On November 24, at least 12 more lost live in clashes between two groups in Kurram.

According to police reports, the clashes occurred in the villages of Kalu Kunj, Badshah Kot, and Bagan Bazar in Lower Kurram, where armed individuals set fire to several houses, leaving many innocent women, children, and elderly people dead.

In separate clashes in Lower Kurram, the death toll reached 45, when a passenger van came under firing.

The incident occurred in Lower Kurram where vehicles coming to and from Peshawar and Kurram came under fire resulting in the death of 38 on the spot and several injured in critical condition initially.

The spokesperson of DPO Kurram stated that the Deputy Commissioner and DPO have reached the spot of incident. The SHO Yar Muhammad said the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Kurram clashes claim 14 more lives, as tally reaches 114

KURRAM: At least 14 more dead, 13 others sustained injuries as the clashes continue in Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ARY News reported. As per details, the

arynews.tv

 

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Six more die in Kurram clashes and firing incidents

Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud has stated that the police and forces contingents have been deployed in several areas adding that an effort being made today to ensure ceasefire.

Hospital sources said that in skirmishes and firing incidents over vehicles 130 people have been died while 186 persons have sustained injuries.

A social worker Mir Afzal Khan has said that the main highway from Parachinar to Peshawar has been closed for last 50 days. “Oil, edible items and medicines have been unavailable in the area,” he said.

Kharlachi border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has also been closed for trade and transportation.

On November 24, at least 12 more people lost lives in clashes between two groups in Kurram.

According to police reports, clashes occurred in the villages of Kalu Kunj, Badshah Kot, and Bagan Bazar in Lower Kurram, where armed individuals set several houses on fire, leaving many innocent women, children, and elderly dead.

In separate clashes in Lower Kurram, death toll reached to 45, when a passenger van came under firing.

The incident occurred in Lower Kurram where vehicles coming to and from Peshawar and Kurram came under fire resulting in death of 38 persons on the spot and several were injured in critical condition.

Six more die in Kurram clashes and firing incidents

KURRAM: At least six more people died, and eight others were injured as clashes and firing incidents continuing at various places in Kurram district of

arynews.tv

 

[BouncerGuy]

Kurram schools open as peace returns after jirga-brokered ceasefire

After days of violent clashes which left around 100 people dead, some semblance of peace returned to the restive district as educational institutions opened on Monday.

According to Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mahsud, all schools and colleges reopened in the district following a ceasefire brokered by a jirga.

Cellular services, which were suspended after clashes broke out last month, have also been resumed.

Despite the ceasefire, the main highway linking Parachinar in upper Kurram with the provincial capital Peshawar was still closed for traffic, a local told Dawn.

The ambush of a convoy of vehicles on November 21, in which around 40 people were killed, took place on the highway. The road has been closed to traffic since then.

The local told Dawn that the main road was used by vehicular convoys on only ten of the past 50 days.

The closure of roads created an acute shortage of edible items and other daily-use items in the district.

Kurram DC Mahsud has said warring sides have vacated the trenches — used to attack each other — which have been occupied by security forces and police.

Jirga meets CM

Meanwhile, a grand jirga constituted by the provincial government to resolve the clashes met Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday.

The meeting agreed to initiate formal negotiations to address the dispute and restore durable peace in the district.

During the meeting, the jirga members assured their full cooperation with the provincial government and expressed commitment to resolving the issue through peaceful means.

The jirga is expected to visit Kurram in the coming days to initiate the dialogue.

Prominent members of the jirga included former federal minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, former senators Saleh Shah and Sajad Khan, former federal minister Ghazi Gulab Jamal, former KP governor Engineer Shaukatullah, and Senator Abdul Raziq and others.

Advisor to KP CM Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif was also present in the meeting.

CM Gandapur thanked the jirga members for their support and assured them that the provincial government would provide all necessary assistance and resources to facilitate the negotiation process. He expressed hope that the jirga’s efforts would lead to a peaceful and lasting solution to the dispute in Kurram.

Last week, the KP CM ordered security forces to carry out indiscriminate action against “militants” in Kurram.

He had ordered security forces to dismantle the bunkers and requested the federal government to deploy additional platoons of paramilitary Frontier Constabulary to maintain peace.

DAWN NEWS

 

[BouncerGuy]

Jirga reaches Kurram, medicines supplied through copter

While a peace jirga comprising representatives from all the tribal districts and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reached Kurram district to hold talks with both warring groups in the Sadda and Parachinar areas, the provincial government on Wednesday supplied life-saving medicines to the volatile district through helicopter.

According to Umar Farooq, a jirga member, the 125-member team reached Kurram on Tuesday evening and spent the night at the residence of former MNA Munir Orakzai after it was advised not to travel to Sadda and Parachinar during the night.

He said jirga members also tried to go to Sadda and Parachinar on Wednesday, but the Bagan tribesmen stopped them from continuing their journey.

However, the jirga members used alternative routes to reach Sadda, Mr Farooq said, adding that they held negotiations with the representatives of one group and would now go to Parachinar to meet the other side.

He told the media that they had come to Kurram on behalf of the entire Pashtun community and would make every effort to establish peace in coordination with the representatives of the two groups.

A ceasefire was enforced by the district administration after armed clashes between the two sides left 133 people, including women and children, dead.

Despite the ceasefire, transportation routes and the Afghan border remain closed, causing immense problems for residents in the district.

Meanwhile, the KP government provided its helicopter for supply of medicines to the restive district. The helicopter airlifted life-saving medicines worth Rs6.3 million on Wednesday.

A statement issued from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat read that the decision, to supply medicines via helicopter, was taken due to shortage of medicines and road blockage in the district. It read the government supplied two consignments on Wednesday, adding that the CM’s adviser and the provincial health secretary were monitoring the distribution of medicines.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur emphasised that the availability of essential medicines must be ensured at all times and instructed that air deliveries should remain operational until the ground connectivity was fully restored. “The provincial government is committed to utilising all available resources to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines to the area,” the statement quoted the chief minister as saying.

In a separate development, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram announced that the party will not attend the multi-party conference (MPC) called by KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.

“The decision has been made because innocent and peaceful citizens were killed [in Islamabad] and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was supporting it. PPP also played role in passing the resolution against PTI in Balochistan Assembly,” he said.

DAWN NEWS

 

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Grand jirga brokers ‘indefinite ceasefire’ in Pakistan district after sectarian clashes— official​

A grand council of elders formed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has brokered a ceasefire in the restive Kurram district for an indefinite period, an official said on Friday, where sectarian clashes since last month have killed at least 133.

The KP government this week formed the grand jirga or council of elders comprising former parliamentarians and senators from tribal districts, with representation from both the Sunni and Shiite sects, to broker a truce between warring tribes. The decision was taken after clashes in the volatile Kurram district killed 133 and injured 171 since Nov. 21.

Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country, but Kurram has a large Shiite population, and the communities have clashed for decades. The latest round of clashes broke out in the restive district after a caravan of Shiites was attacked in Parachinar town last Thursday, killing 41.

“The grand jirga held individual as well as collective settings with both the sides and after the hours-long deliberations, agreed on a ceasefire in Kurram district for an indefinite period,” Commissioner Kohat Division Syed Motasim Billah Shah told Arab News.

“And the bunkers will remain empty until the final decision of the grand jirga.”

Javedullah Mehsud, Kurram district’s deputy commissioner, said authorities were using a “multi-pronged policy” to resolve the issue, which included the deployment of security officials in sensitive locations and the jirga engaging in talks with rival sides.

“The jirga is heading in the right direction and we expect a permanent ceasefire in the next three, four or five days,” Mehsud told Arab News.

Shaheen Bangash, a Sunni member of the council, said both warring tribes earnestly want peace and harmony. However, he doubted the jirga could succeed in striking a peace deal.

“De-weaponizing Kurram region was the shortest possible route to avoid bloody clashes in future,” he said.

Bangash urged the government to help resolve land disputes in Kurram, pointing out that in most cases, a small dispute developed into an armed clash leading to tensions.

“The government, Shiite and Sunni are the three main stakeholders in the Kurram saga,” Bangash said.” And there are a few people who created constant disharmony in this sensitive region.”

Since last Thursday, days of fighting with light and heavy weapons have brought the region to a standstill, with major roads closed and mobile phone services cut as the death toll surged.

Kurram police spokesperson Riaz Hussain told Arab News that no fresh clashes had been reported during the last two days.

However, he said the main highways connecting the district with Peshawar and other adjacent areas such as the Thall-Parachinar Road had been blocked for the movement of passenger vehicles.

“The ceasefire is so far in place in Kurram and no fresh firing incident has been reported as of yet,” he added.

Hajji Abid Hussain, a Shiite elder and former president of Anjuman-e- Hussainia Parachinar, the biggest social, religious and political platform of the Shiite community in the district, told Arab News that he was optimistic about the jirga’s progress in maintaining peace in the area.

Hussain, also a member of the jirga, was also of the view that resolving small land disputes was a prerequisite to ensure lasting peace in the district.

“The jirga members are shuttling between both the rival sides, holding negotiations with the elders,” he said. “I’m very optimistic that a breakthrough to achieve durable ceasefire is expected very soon.”

Grand jirga brokers ‘indefinite ceasefire’ in Pakistan district after sectarian clashes— official

ISLAMABAD: A grand council of elders formed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has brokered a ceasefire in the restive Kurram district for an indefinite period, an official said on Friday, where sectarian clashes since last month have killed at least 133. The KP government this week...

www.arabnews.pk

 

[BouncerGuy]

Negotiations for peace in Kurram continue

Pashtun Qaumi Jirga comprising all political parties and the provincial government-sponsored jirga separately held negotiations with representatives of the two sides to Kurram conflict to restore lasting peace in the region.

Amid the peace negotiations continuing for the last five days, main Parachinar road and other arteries in the area remained closed to traffic.

Malik Naseer Kokikhel, Shahpur Khan and Mufti Kifayatullah told journalists on Saturday that the members of Pashtun Qaumi Jirga held negotiations with the elders of both the parties in Sadda, Parachinar and other places in Kurram tribal district.

On the other hand, the provincial government-sponsored jirga, consisting of elders of Orakzai, Hangu and Kohat, is also engaged in negotiations with the elders of the two sides in the commissioner’s office in Kohat.

According to the deputy commissioner of Kurram, Javedullah Mahsud, the elders during the jirga in Kohat had agreed to an indefinite ceasefire agreement and negotiations were underway for a formal ceasefire agreement.

DAWN NEWS

 

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Grand peace jirga 'fails to reach consensus' on Kurram crisis

The Kohat Grand Peace Jirga convened to address the ongoing crisis in Kurram district failed to reach a consensus a day earlier, sources confirmed to Geo News on Wednesday.

The talks, ongoing for about a week, will continue today, focusing on restoring peace and reopening the region’s central highway, which remains blocked.

The deteriorating security situation has severely disrupted daily life in Kurram. Food, petrol, and medical supplies are critically low, with residents struggling to access essential services.

Gas shortages have forced the closure of tandoors and restaurants, exacerbating the community’s hardships.

Meanwhile, addressing the grand jirga, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif urged unity and collaboration to restore peace.

"Hatred must end for war to cease," he said. Saif assured participants that the provincial government is taking measures, including the delivery of medicines via helicopters and exploring the restoration of air travel services to the region.

He emphasised the urgency of removing private bunkers from the central highway and disarming the area of heavy weaponry.

Saif went on to say that both tribes desire peace, but certain elements have vested interests in perpetuating conflict, which he said cannot be identified without the collaboration of public.

He also pledged strict action against those hindering peace efforts.

The KP Cm's aide urged the grand jirga participants to find a permanent solution to the conflict and also expressed hope that the ceasefire deal would be followed on a long-term basis.

He further said that CM Ali Amin Gandapur has also formed a committee to supervise the peace process between the warring tribes.

District Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud highlighted ongoing initiatives to normalise the situation and assist affected residents.

However, locals stressed the need for a sustainable resolution, calling for the permanent reopening of the Peshawar-Parachinar highway to ensure lasting peace.

Due to the violence that started last month and claimed over 130 lives, elected representatives from Kurram district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had on Tuesday demanded the government to launch a de-weaponisation drive in the lower and upper Kurram district.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority, meanwhile, has provided relief goods worth Rs150 million to the deputy commissioner Kurram for onward distribution among the affectees of the violence.

Last week's All Parties Conference (APC) raised alarm over the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). It highlighted over 200 fatalities in Kurram unrest this year, blaming ineffective governance at both federal and provincial levels.

It also called for immediate measures, including the release of funds allocated for tribal districts under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, which has been inactive for more than two years.

Grand peace jirga 'fails to reach consensus' on Kurram crisis

Kurram residents face food, fuel, and medicine shortages.Helicopter services ensure critical medicine supply to Kurram.Government considers reinstating Kurram air transport services.The Kohat Grand...

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