Consensus reached between two tribes in Kurram, says Barrister Saif

PESHAWAR: Advisor to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information Muhammad Ali Saif says a consensus has reached between the two tribes to bring lasting peace in Kurram district, ARY News reported.

Barrister Saif, while providing details on the ongoing peace talks on Sunday, told the media that the jirga would be convened again on Tuesday after the forum, via mutual consultation, decided to grant two days’ time to one of the parties who asked for more time for further discuss with its leaders on few points.

Jalal Bangash, Secretary of Anjuman Association and member of the peace jirga told the media that all demands and proposals put forward had been accepted and the Turi Bangash tribe has signed the agreement.

He said that progress in peace talks, underway at Kohat, was aimed to broker an agreement for lasting peace between the warring tribes whose clashes have resulted over 100 fatalities since November last in Kurram.

The district has been declared “disaster-hit” by the provincial government with authorities airlifting medical supplies to the area and evacuating people in critical need.

Underscoring that a consensus has been reached on all major points, Barrister Saif has said that the agreement would be signed once the consultation process has been completed.

Bunkers would be abolished and the area would be de-weaponized as per the Apex Committee’s decision, the KP government spokesperson noted while reaffirming the government’s resolve to achieve a permanent and sustainable solution to the conflict.

Barrister Saif said that the conflict in Kurram was close to being resolved due to the efforts of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the grand jirga.

Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Cabinet had already declared Kurram disaster-hit, imposing an emergency amid a severe shortage of food and medicine supplies due to road closure after the violent sectarian attacks killed more than 100 people in the district.

KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur emphasised that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is working to resolve issues through negotiations and tribal councils. He vowed to protect the lives and properties of citizens without compromising the government’s authority.

Officials briefed the meeting that roads would only be reopened after an agreement between the parties involved. Social media accounts spreading sectarian hate will be blocked.

The Apex Committee of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also on December 20 reached a unanimous decision for both parties in the Kurram conflict to surrender their weapons in 15 days.